Effect of economic and security challenges on the Nigerian health sector.

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Away from home: A qualitative exploration of health experiences of Nigerian students in a U.K. university

© Journal of International Students. This study explored the factors that contribute to the health experience of Nigerian students in the United Kingdom. Challenges faced by international students include dietary issues, isolation, stress, depression and others. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted combination of purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit participants for the study. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis and Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to interpret themes. Two major themes from our findings were discussed under broad headings: Transitional changes and financial capability. These findings have practical implications for Nigerian students’ well being in a U.K. university. Cultural dimension is needed to reduce culture shock experience among international students during sojourning

Inhibitory Studies of Tamarindus indica Seed Extract and Fractions on Hematological Activities of Bitis arietans Venom

Envenomation is a serious public health and occupational hazard in tropical and subtropical countries. Antivenom serum treatment has been related to extreme hypersensitivity, high cost, and inaccessibility. Consequently, therapeutic plants have been investigated to give an alternative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the methanolic extract and fractions of Tamarindus indica seeds to neutralize the hemolytic, anticoagulant and hemorrhagic activities of Bitis arietans venom. The powdered form of Tamarindus indica seed was extracted using methanol. The methanol extract was further fractionated using butanol solvent. The aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract inhibited hemolysis caused by crude venom by 95.5%, while methanolic extract significantly reduced the anticoagulant time of crude venom to 10.2%. The in vivo hemorrhagic activity of the crude venom of Bitis arietans was neutralized by both the crude methanolic extract and the subsequent two fractions of Tamarindus indica seed. However, the crude methanolic extract was found to be the most active by reducing the hemorrhage diameter caused by crude venom to 39%. The findings of this present research work demonstrated a very good antivenom properties of the seeds of Tamarindus indica, which suggests that it could be a potential source of effective, and safe compounds with inhibitory activities against Bitis arietans envenomation

The Impact of Stroke on the Quality of Life (QOL) of Stroke Survivors in the Southeast (SE) Communities of Nigeria: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: This study aims to explore the Quality of Life (QOL) amongst ten stroke survivors in the SE communities of Nigeria. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized. Setting: Medical institutes in the southeast communities of Nigeria. Participants: 10 participants ranging in age from 29 to 72 years old. Stroke is typically a life-changing catastrophe, claiming over 55 million lives and disabling 44 million people each year. According to the research, stroke incidence has decreased by 42% in high-income nations worldwide but has increased by 100% in low-income areas such as Africa. Surviving a stroke can be a long-term process that impacts numerous elements of an individual’s life. Stroke-related QOL is a major health care issue in Nigeria that has received insufficient attention. The primary objective for survivors is to improve their QOL. Thus, it is critical to understand the true impact of stroke on the QOL of stroke survivors from their perspective. Individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 stroke survivors were conducted. An IPA approach shaped the interview process and the analysis of the data. Three main themes arose from the data: an ‘unfamiliar self’ which illuminated the altered body (unpredictable body), the ‘recovery of the embodied self’ (the transitional stage of recovery) and the ‘reconstruction of the embodied self, which reflected a continuous process of belonging and becoming. The impact of stroke on survivors’ QOL was twofold: negative and positive. The physical dimension had the largest detrimental impact on the survivors’ QOL, according to the findings. Spirituality, on the other hand, had the most positive impact on survivors’ QOL in Nigeria’s southeast communities

COVID-19 and Black Africans in the UK: Disparities linked to underlying inequalities in health

Rapid response to: Is ethnicity linked to incidence or outcomes of covid-19? BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1548 (Published 20 April 2020

Mental Health in low-and middle income countries (LMICs): Going beyond the need for funding

Despite being globally recognised as an important public health issue, mental health is still less prioritised as a disease burden in many Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). More than 70% of the global mental health burden occurs in these countries. We discussed mental health issues in LMICs under themes such as abuse and mental illness, cultural influence on mental health, need for dignity in care, meeting financial and workforce gaps and the need for national health policy for the mental health sector. We highlighted that although mental health education and health care services in most LMICs are poorly resourced; there is an urgent need to address issues beyond funding that contribute to poor mental health. In order to meet the increasing challenge of mental health illness in LMICs, there is a need for effort to address cultural and professional challenges that contribute to poor mental health among individuals. We have a notion that mental health should be integrated into primary health care in LMICs. Creating awareness on the impact of some cultural attitudes/practices will encourage better uptake of mental health services and increase the ease when discussing mental health issues in these countries which can contribute to reducing the poor mental health in LMICs

The Role of Finding Out in Type 2 Diabetes Management among West-African Immigrants Living in the UK

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) prevalence is three times higher among West African Immigrants compared to the general population in the UK. The challenges of managing T2DM among this group have resulted in complications. Reports have highlighted the impact of migration on the health of the immigrant population, and this has contributed to the need to understand the influence of living in West Africa, and getting diagnosed with T2DM, in the management of their condition in the UK. Using a qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach, thirty-four West African immigrants living in the UK were recruited for this study. All participants were interviewed using Semi-structured interviews. After coding transcripts, concepts emerged including noticing symptoms, delayed diagnosis, affordability of health services, beliefs about health, feelings at diagnosis, and emotions experienced at diagnosis all contribute to finding out about diagnosis T2DM. These factors were linked to living in West Africa, among participants, and played significant roles in managing T2DM in the UK. These concepts were discussed under finding out as the overarching concept. Findings from this study highlight important aspects of T2DM diagnosis and how lived experiences, of living in West Africa and the UK, contribute to managing T2DM among West African immigrants. The findings of this study can be valuable for healthcare services supporting West African immigrants living in the UK

Systematic review of diabetes management among black African immigrants, white and South Asian populations

Background This study aims to explore the differences in the management of diabetes outcomes and prevalence among black Africans, white and South Asian populations living in western countries from published evidence. This review in-corporates findings from differences in diabetes management outcome among black Africans compared to white and South Asian populations. Methods A systematic search of major electronic databases with peer review publications was conducted. PubMed, CIHNAL, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science direct databases were searched from 2007-2018. Relevant journals and citations from references were searched for selection in the review. Data were analysed to understand differences in diabetes outcomes among these populations. Results Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria out of the sixty-six articles retrieved and included in the review. Majority of the articles were cross-sectional quantitative studies (n=10) and qualitative studies (n=5). Diabetes prevalence and outcome measures such as haemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index were reported to be higher among black African than white populations. The data showed disparity in diabetes management among black Africans as compared to white and South Asian groups. Conclusions The poorer health outcomes reported among black Africans as compared to white and South Asian populations suggest poor diabetes management. Further research is needed to understand why there is such disparity in the health outcome of black African populations living with diabetes in western countries. There is a need to have a consistent target outcome measure in studies. Further synthesis was not possible due to differences in outcome measures used by studies reviewed

Exploring the Experiences of West African Immigrants Living with Type 2 Diabetes in the UK

The increasing prevalence and poorer management of Type 2 diabetes among West African immigrants in the UK is a public health concern. This research explored the experiences of West African immigrants in the management of Type 2 diabetes in the UK using a constructivist grounded theory approach. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with thirty-four West African immigrants living with Type 2 diabetes in the London area. Fifteen male and nineteen female adult West African immigrants with age range from 33–82 years participated in the study. Participants were recruited from five diabetes support groups and community settings. Initial, focused and theoretical coding, constant comparison and memos were used to analyse collected data. Three concepts emerged: Changing dietary habits composed of participants’ experiences in meeting dietary recommendations, improving physical activity concerned with the experience of reduced physical activity since moving to the UK and striving to adapt which focus on the impact of migration changes in living with Type 2 diabetes in the UK. These address challenges that West African immigrants experience in the management of Type 2 diabetes in the UK. The findings of this research provide a better understanding of the influencing factors and can be used to improve the support provided for West Africans living with Type 2 diabetes in the UK, presenting a deeper understanding of socio-cultural factors that contribute to supporting individuals from this population