The influence of burden of care and perceived stigma on expressed emotions of relatives of stable persons with schizophrenia in Nigerian semi-urban/urban settings

RESUMO: Schizophrenia’s burden defines experience of family members and is associated with high level of distress. Courtesy stigma, a distress concept, worsens caregivers’ burden of care and impacts on schizophrenia. Expressed emotion (EE), another family variable, impacts on schizophrenia. However, relationship between EE, burden of care and stigma has been little explored in western literature but not in sub-Saharan Africa particularly Nigeria. This study explored the impact of burden of care and courtesy stigma on EE among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia in urban and semi-urban settings in Nigeria. Fifty caregivers each from semi-urban and urban areas completed a socio-demographic schedule, family questionnaire, burden interview schedule and perceived devaluation and discrimination scale. The caregivers had a mean age of 42 (± 15.6) years. Majority were females (57%), married (49%), from Yoruba ethnic group (68%), monogamous family (73%) and Christians (82%). A higher proportion of the whole sample (53%) had tertiary education. Three out of ten were sole caregivers. Seventy three (73%) lived with the person they cared for. The average number of hours spent per week by a caregiver with a person with schizophrenia was 35 hours. The urban sample had significantly higher proportion of carers with high global expressed emotion (72.7%) than the semi-urban sample (27.3%). The odds of a caregiver in an urban setting exhibiting high expressed emotion are 4.202 times higher than the odds of caregiver in a semi-urban setting. Additionally, there was significance difference between the urban and semi-urban caregivers in discrimination dimension. High levels of subjective and objective burden were associated with high levels of critical comments. In conclusion, this study is the first demonstration of urban-semi-urban difference in expressed emotion in an African country and its findings provide further support to hypothesized relationship between components of EE and burden of care

COVID-19 in Nigeria: Implications for Management of Related Co-morbidities, Prevalent Public Health Challenges, and Future Epidemic Preparedness

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is now well-established in Africa with cases reported from all countries on the continent. Despite the significant progress that has been made in the response to the pandemic in Nigeria, relative to the period of Ebola epidemic, the currently reported number of COVID-19 cases are likely under-estimates of the true number of cases. This is attributable to restricted testing capacity due to limited technical, infrastructural, financial, and logistical capacity to rapidly scale-up testing. In this article, we explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of related co-morbidities and the major prevalent public health challenges, including mental health, in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. We also discuss the most current knowledge about candidate vaccines for the control of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) strain. The interactions between COVID-19 and the endemic public health challenges in Nigeria further highlight the linkage between infectious diseases and poverty, and emphasise the need for a sustained increase in investments in the general public health system that is geared toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria

E-BOOKS UTILISATION AND STUDENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN UNIVERSITIES IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR EDUCATIONAL PLANNERS

This study examined e-books utilisations and students' academic achievement in universities in Lagos State: implication for educational planners. With the use of descriptive survey research methodologies, this study was driven by three research questions and three null hypotheses. All six of Lagos State's traditional universities make up the study's population. Three institutions were chosen using a straightforward random sampling method. Additionally, 150 final-year students from each of the studied institutions were chosen using a practical selection approach, resulting in 450 respondents from the three universities chosen for the study. A well-structured questionnaire titled "E-Book Utilisation and Students' Academic Achievement in Universities" was used to gather data (IEBSAAU). The test-retest reliability approach was used to validate the instrument, and it was determined to be reliable with a reliability coefficient of 0.79. The statistical technique Chi-Square was used to gather data. The findings showed significant relationship in the use of electronic books with X2 = (4, N = 450) = 246.462, P =.000; a significant relationship between computer literacy with  X2 = (4,  N = 450) = 206.431 , P =.000; a significant relationship between students ‘perception on the use of electronic books for academic progress with  X2 = (4,  N = 450) = 262.109 , P =.000 and student academic achievement. It is recommended that: E-book library should be set up and maintained in every university of study to boost interest and enlightens students and teachers on the importance of e-books to teaching and learning

School climate and productivity of teachers in public senior secondary schools, Ogun West Senatorial District, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to explore the potential correlation between school climate and teachers' productivity in public senior secondary schools in Ogun West Senatorial District, Nigeria. The study employed a correlational research design and was guided by four null hypotheses. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire titled “School Climate and Teachers’ Productivity in Public Senior Secondary Schools in Ogun West Senatorial District, Nigeria” on a Likert Four Point Scale rating. The questionnaire obtained a reliability coefficient of 0.83. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the sample, which consisted of 25 schools. In each of the 25 schools, 20 teachers were selected randomly on an equal gender basis, resulting in a total of 500 teachers and 200 hundred school head to include principal and heads of department, totaling 700 participants through a multistage sampling technique and data were analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient in the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The findings indicated a significant relationship between interpersonal relationship and teachers’ productivity: a significant relationship between school safety and teachers’ productivity; a significant relationship between institutional environment and teacher’s productivity; and a significant relationship between school management and teachers’ productivity. By implication, all aspect of school climate identified in this study plays an integral role in teacher’s productivity, hence the needed catalyst for boosting a good atmosphere in school climate becomes the responsibility of all stakeholders in education. It can be concluded that school climate is key to teacher’s productivity. More so, it is recommended that every school should create a climate team comprising representatives from all school community groups, supported by strong and clearly defined climate leadership at all levels

Incidence and correlates of delirium in a West African mental health clinic

Objective: <br/> <br/> To determine the incidence of delirium in those patients presenting to a psychiatric clinic in Nigeria and to examine if any demographic or clinical variables were correlated with this diagnosis. <br/> <br/> Method <br/> <br/> A prospective survey design; 264 consecutive new referrals to a psychiatric clinic in Nigeria were assessed for the presence of delirium using a standardised diagnostic scale. Data was analysed for normality and appropriate statistical test employed to examine the relationships between the presence of delirium and demographic and clinical variables. <br/> <br/> Results <br/> <br/> Of individuals presenting to the mental health clinics, 18.2% had delirium. No demographic variable was significant regarding the presence or absence of delirium. With regard to clinical variables duration of current symptoms, referral source and the presence of comorbid physical illness were significantly associated with the presence of delirium. Most delirium was due to infections. Nearly all patients with delirium were prescribed psychotropic medication (95.2%), and most attributed their symptoms to a spiritual cause.Conclusion(s) Delirium presents more commonly to psychiatry services in the less developed world compared to the West. Development efforts should focus on recognition and management of delirium to improve outcomes and maximise resource

Study habits among Nigerian secondary school students with brain fag syndrome

Brain Fag Syndrome (BFS) is a psychiatric disorder associated with study affecting two to four out of every ten African students. One of the consequences of this illness is early foreclosure of education in affected students. Etiological factors such as nervous predisposition, motivation for achievement, and psycho-stimulant use have been found associated with it. However, the contributions of study habits to the pathogenesis of this study-related illness deserve more attention than has been given. We carried out this cross-sectional study to ascertain the types of study habits associated with BFS among a sample of senior secondary school students in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Five hundred students from six schools in Ile-Ife were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The selected students completed the Socio-demographic Data Schedule, the Brain Fag Syndrome Scale, and Bakare’s Study Habit Inventory. The prevalence of BFS was 40.2% (201). There were no significant socio-demographic variables identifying BFS students apart from those without BFS. The significant measures of study habits that predicted BFS were homework and assignments, examinations, and written work. Those with BFS had 3.58 times the odds to perform poorly on homework and assignments, 3.27 times the odds to perform poorly on examinations, and 1.01 times the odds to perform poorly on written work compared to those without BFS. We concluded that the results of this study suggest that homework and assignments, examinations, and written work were significant study habit variables associated with BFS

Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol Use among a Sample of Nigerian Semirural Community Dwellers in Nigeria

Objective. To determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among a sample of Nigerian semirural community dwellers in Nigeria. Methods. In a single arm nonrandomized intervention study, the assessment of baseline hazardous and harmful alcohol use and associated risk factors was conducted in two semirural local government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria, with the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Participants included 1203 subjects 15 years and older, recruited between October 2010 and April 2011. ASSIST score of 0–10 was classified as lower risk scores, 11–26 as moderate risk, and 27+ as high risk. Results. Prevalence of lifetime alcohol use was 57.9% and current alcohol use was 23.7%. Current alcohol use was more prevalent among the younger age group p=0.02, male gender p=0.003, unmarried p<0.01, low educational level p=0.003, low socioeconomic class p=0.01, unemployed p<0.001, and the Christians p<0.01. Of the current drinkers, the majority (69.1%) were at either moderate or high health risk from alcohol use. Conclusion. Alcohol consumption is prevalent in semirural communities in Nigeria and the majority of these drinkers are at moderate or high health risk. Screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment for unhealthy alcohol use should be integrated into community care services in Nigerian rural communities

Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol Use among a Sample of Nigerian Semirural Community Dwellers in Nigeria

Objective. To determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among a sample of Nigerian semirural community dwellers in Nigeria. Methods. In a single arm nonrandomized intervention study, the assessment of baseline hazardous and harmful alcohol use and associated risk factors was conducted in two semirural local government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria, with the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Participants included 1203 subjects 15 years and older, recruited between October 2010 and April 2011. ASSIST score of 0-10 was classified as lower risk scores, 11-26 as moderate risk, and 27+ as high risk. Results. Prevalence of lifetime alcohol use was 57.9% and current alcohol use was 23.7%. Current alcohol use was more prevalent among the younger age group = 0.02, male gender = 0.003, unmarried &lt; 0.01, low educational level = 0.003, low socioeconomic class = 0.01, unemployed &lt; 0.001, and the Christians &lt; 0.01. Of the current drinkers, the majority (69.1%) were at either moderate or high health risk from alcohol use. Conclusion. Alcohol consumption is prevalent in semirural communities in Nigeria and the majority of these drinkers are at moderate or high health risk. Screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment for unhealthy alcohol use should be integrated into community care services in Nigerian rural communities

Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Association between Sleep Quality and Self-Rated Health in Healthcare Students

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with sleep quality in healthcare students and to determine whether depressive and anxiety symptoms may explain some of the associations between sleep quality and self-rated health. Study design: This is a cross-sectional study at wave one. Methods: A total of 637 healthcare students were recruited via a stratified random sampling method in Hangzhou, China. The Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ) and the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) were used to assess sleep quality and depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Self-rated health was assessed via a self-developed questionnaire of both physical and psychological health. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of sleep quality on self-rated health through depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results: Students engaged in part-time employment (p = 0.022), with poor perceived employment prospects (p = 0.009), and who did not participate in recreational sports (p = 0.008) had worse sleep quality. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant total effect of sleep quality on self-rated health (b = 0.592, p &lt; 0.001), a significant direct effect of both sleep quality and depressive and anxiety symptoms on self-rated health (b = 0.277, 95% CI: 0.032&ndash;0.522), and a significant indirect effect of sleep quality on self-rated health through depressive and anxiety symptoms (b = 0.315, 95% CI: 0.174&ndash;0.457). Conclusions: Depressive and anxiety symptoms partially explain the association between sleep quality and self-rated health. Intervening upon sleep quality, depressive, and anxiety symptoms may bolster the self-rated health of healthcare students

Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Association between Sleep Quality and Self-Rated Health in Healthcare Students

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with sleep quality in healthcare students and to determine whether depressive and anxiety symptoms may explain some of the associations between sleep quality and self-rated health. Study design: This is a cross-sectional study at wave one. Methods: A total of 637 healthcare students were recruited via a stratified random sampling method in Hangzhou, China. The Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ) and the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) were used to assess sleep quality and depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Self-rated health was assessed via a self-developed questionnaire of both physical and psychological health. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of sleep quality on self-rated health through depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results: Students engaged in part-time employment (p = 0.022), with poor perceived employment prospects (p = 0.009), and who did not participate in recreational sports (p = 0.008) had worse sleep quality. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant total effect of sleep quality on self-rated health (b = 0.592, p b = 0.277, 95% CI: 0.032–0.522), and a significant indirect effect of sleep quality on self-rated health through depressive and anxiety symptoms (b = 0.315, 95% CI: 0.174–0.457). Conclusions: Depressive and anxiety symptoms partially explain the association between sleep quality and self-rated health. Intervening upon sleep quality, depressive, and anxiety symptoms may bolster the self-rated health of healthcare students