Knowledge and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening amongst Nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria

Cervical cancer is both preventable and curable, yet morbidity and mortality from the disease remain high especially in developing countries. Request for cervical cancer screening by Pap smear and cytology or any other screening methods have been found to be exceedingly low even among health workers. This study was conducted to examine the knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical screening among female nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, with a view to identifying defining variables of attitude and practice of cervical screening. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 117 nurses through a self-administered questionnaire. Those who were not aware of cervical cancer screening (n=3) were excluded. A descriptive analysis of the data collected from 114 of the nurses who were aware of the screening revealed that awareness and knowledge of the cervical cancer screening was very high but they exhibited indifference and negative attitude, and low personal screening practices. Several reasons were put forward for this low level of practice among which were fears of test being positive and non consent from husbands. This finding among nurses being agents of such health education calls for concern. It is therefore recommended that concerted efforts should be made to dispel the fears of outcome of test and to incorporate husbands into future health education of married female nurses. This will increase the number of nurses who will go for voluntary cervical cancer screening. Keywords: Cervical cancer screening, Pap smear, Cancer prevention, Knowledge, Practic

Utilization of heath posters and referral system for mental health in primary heath centres in northern Nigeria

Posters are recognized effective small media materials used in passing health education to clients in the health care settings. Disseminating mental health information through such a medium should be an indispensible component of Primary Healthcare (PHC) services, just as the two-way referral also forms an important part of it. This study explored the extent to which mental health posters are provided at the PHC centres as a means of mental health education to clients, with a view to calling for attention its design and display. The study also examines the referral services for mental health clients at PHC centres. This study is part of larger study. Qualitative research method was adopted for this study. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 28 participants between December 2014 and June 2015 in 47 PHC centres in three selected States in northern Nigeria. Data were collected through In-depth interviews and physical observations of all health education posters displayed at the PHC centres. Results show that PHC centres had various kinds of health information posters but none on mental health. However, only two PHC centres had mental health-related posters providers by NGOs. PHC service provider were equally ignorant of the need for mental health posters while authorities concerned seem not interested in mental health issues. Referral services for mental health were virtually non-existent in all the States covered by the study. The consequences of these are misconceptions, stigmatization, increasing prevalence of avoidance mental health disorders and poor inter-level service delivery. PHC coordinators, other stakeholders and relevant Agencies need to provide these services at the community level for the promotion of mental health and treatment of mental health challenges.Keywords: mental health posters, mental health education, northern Nigeria, Primary Health Car

The psychological and physical burden of family care givers of patient with end-stage renal disease in a Tertiary Hospital in North West, Nigeria

Kidney disease is one of the non-communicable diseases with significant global burden. Researchers have documented that both high and low income countries suffer a great deal of economic eat up by end stage renal disease. Also, families suffer a great deal of burden caring for their affected loved ones. Thus, this study aims at determining the psychological and physical burden of care givers of patient with end stage renal disease. Findings of the study is hoped to bring to limelight the burden experienced by caregivers in the study environment with possible interventions. A mixed method using census sampling and In-depth Interview was adopted for the study. Data was collected using ZBI adopted and modified instrument and indepth interview from 21 respondents. Data was analysed using simple frequency tables, percentages while interviews were transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed. Majority (76.2%) of the respondents are males within ages 31-40 years and are predominantly Muslims by faith. Majority (90.5%) suffers stress and fear (66.7%) psychologically and physically respondent suffer strained health (81.9%) and increased needs (71.4%) by their patients. Family caregivers suffer huge psychological and physical burden caring for their sick ones. It is recommended that psychological and physical support be provided for family care givers to reduce the burden they face

Push Factors and Attitudes to Substance Abuse among Students of a Government Senior Secondary School in Kano State

Psychoactive substance use continues to be a major risk behavior among youths. It is on the increase and associated with physical and or mental health consequences. This study assessed the push factors towards psychoactive substances among students of Tarauni Government Senior Secondary School, Kano state. This cross sectional descriptive study employed the systematic sampling technique to select 247 participants from data was obtained, using a self-administered questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The results revealed that, the main push factors for taking psychoactive substances are to feel relaxed or to sleep (68.1%, n=160), relieve stress (57.0%, n=134) and anxiety (54.0%, n=127), enhance alertness (48.5%, n=114), keep calm (52.0%, n=112), blend with peers (49.8%, n=117), gain more power (51.5%, n=121) and socialize (45.1%, n=106). It was therefore recommended that health education and sensitization programme on the effect of substance use for students and families via school curriculum, health and religious worship centers should be put in place Key words: Attitude, Perception, Psychoactive substances, Push factor

Challenges faced by psychiatric nurses in managing psychiatric patients in Kano State, Nigeria

Due to the complex nature of working environment and increase prevalence of mental illness in Nigeria, psychiatric nurses are faced with highly demanding and challenging roles in the process of service delivery. The study aimed to identify the challenges, factors associated with and strategies to overcome these challenges faced by psychiatric nurses in managing psychiatric patients in Kano state, northwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey research study was conducted among the entire 81 psychiatric nurses working in Dawanau Psychiatric Hospitals and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Psychiatric ward. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. The major identified challenges were staff shortage (90.1%), inadequate facilities (72.8%), unavailability of drugs (71.6%) and lack of support and workplace dissatisfaction (69.1%). Most of the factors associated with the challenges included limited resources (87.6%), inadequate government and institutional funding (79.0%) as well as neglect of the unit (70.4%). Increasing and improving psychiatric facilities (92.6%), recruitment of additional staffs in the unit (91.4%), availing the necessary drugs to the unit (63.0%), improving staff training and motivation (77.8%) and adequate support from the government (79.0%) were the suggestions to overcome the challenges. It is concluded that such challenges are inimical to the needed psychiatric services in the study setting. The role of governments and health policy makers in paying more attention to human resource development, provision of adequate facilities, continuous academic advancement and timely updates to enhance the quality of care rendered to the patients with mental illnesses are recommended as ways to improve services. Key words: Psychiatric services, Challenges, Strategies, Psychiatric nurses, Psychiatric patient

Perception and Beliefs about Mental Illness among Adults in Birnin Kudu Metropolis Jigawa State

Misconceptions about causes and symptoms of mental illnesses remain major concern in northern Nigeria, resulting in making inappropriate treatments option for mentally ill patients. The study is aimed to find out the adults‟ belief on the causes of mental illness, perception on the symptoms and preferred place for the treatment of mental illness in Birnin kudu metropolis Jigawa state. Cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed in this study, which involved a random sample of 384 adults, recruited from Birnin kudu metropolis. A multistage sampling technique was adopted. Data were obtained using structured interview guided questionnaire. These were organized and analysed with SPSS version 23. The findings of the study revealed that brain disease (16.20%), domestic violence (14.52%), hereditary (13.13%), evil spirit (12.85%) and trauma (12.01%) were identified by the respondents as the major belief causes of mental illness. Sleep disturbances (13.95%), tension (13.06%), aggression and wandering (12.46%), suicidal thoughts (10.97%) and sadness and loss of interest (10.68%) were identified by the respondents as a major symptoms of mental illness. Also, the findings of this study indicated that respondents identified orthodox medicine (31.82%), traditional medicine (28.79%) and spiritual healing (25.76%) as the major preferred place for treatment of mental illness. There is need for mental health care personnel to collaborate with community members in changing the wrong perception and negative beliefs of mental illnesses through community sensitization and involvements. Key words: Belief, Community mental health, Mental illness, Perceptio

Assessment of Perceived Family Psychological Support among Depressed Patients in two Psychiatric Hospitals Kaduna State

A family member experiencing mental illness or any other challenge usually finds the family as the first point of support. Family members supply the required psychological support and care for the affected family member.  This study assessed the perceived family psychological support among depressed patients in Psychiatric Hospitals, Kaduna State Nigeria.  The study adopted a descriptive cross sectional research design. One hundred and forty-four (144) depressed patients were randomly selected from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) both in Kaduna State. Statistical package social sciences (SPSS) version 22, was used to analyse the data. The results showed that 40% of the 144 participants claimed to be psychologically supported by their families.  This means that less than half of the depressed patients under review, had high level of perceived psychological support from their family members. Females received more family psychological support than their male counterparts. Recovery rate, using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), was significantly correlated with the level of family members’ psychological support. It is therefore, recommended that more focus should be placed on enhancing more family psychological supports for depressed patients most especially in the areas of encouragement towards health education, religious and / or spiritual activities, brightening the moods of their patients, and  more moral support. Also, family focused psycho education should be provided to family members of depressed patients by the professional care givers. Keywords: Psychological Support, Family, Care, Depression, Tertiary Hospital