Psychological characteristics as correlates of emotional burden in incarcerated offenders in Nigeria

No Abstract.The East African Medical Journal Vol. 83 (10) 2006: pp. 545-55

Aggressive Behaviour and Mental Illness: A Study of in-patients at Aro Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta

To determine the magnitude and pattern of aggressive behaviour among psychiatric in-patients and identity associated socio-demographic and clinical factors. The studywas cross-sectional in design. Among patients admitted to theNeuro-psychiatricHospital, Aro (and its Lantoro annex), Abeokuta between January 1 to December 31, 2005, those who manifested aggressive behaviour were identified. Each was evaluated by the medical team, and a questionnaire detailing socio-demographic and clinic variableswas administered on them. Atotal of 305 patients comprising 213 (69.8%) males and 92(30.2%) females were managed as inpatients during the period of the survey. Out of these, 43 patients manifested aggressive behaviour representing a rate of 13.8%. The aggressive patients consisted of 26males and 17 females, representing rates of 12.2 and 18.5 percent for the sexes respectively. Of the 11 diagnoses entered for all the patients, only 3 were associated with aggressive behaviour. These included schizophrenia, 21 patients (48.8%); bipolar manic illness, 12 patients (27.9%) and co-morbid substance use (mainly cannabis) and mental disorder, 10 patients (22.3%). Nursing personnel constituted the majority of target of aggression. Unemployment was the only socio demographic variable observed with significant positive relationship with aggressive behaviour. In addition, the commonest probable precipitants of aggressive behaviour included hallucinations, clamouring for discharge and attempting to abscond, reaction to confrontational interview, impulsivity and reaction to unmet demands. Mental health practitioners (especially nurses) should be equipped with necessary skills in managing aggressive and potentially aggressive patients.The present observationsmay be useful in raising the suspicion of care providers on potentially aggressive patients for preventive purpose.Keywords: Aggressive Behaviour,Mental Illness, South-WesternNigeria

Economic Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on households

Introduction: this study evaluated the economic impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on individuals and households. Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data. Nigerian citizens who were domiciled or restricted from travelling abroad for no less than one month since the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown were recruited into the study through focal persons purposively selected across the different states in Nigeria. Using WhatsApp® platform, the respondents completed the survey on household income and expenditure before and during the lockdown. Economic burden of COVID-19 lockdown on individuals and families was estimated using a prevalence-based cost of illness approach. Results: four hundred and four (male = 242; female = 162) individuals have participated in the study. The mean (SD) age of the respondents was 30.98 (10.92) years. Monthly income showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.73) before and during lockdown. The overall household expenditure before and during the lockdown periods were USD 320 and USD 290. The total mean monthly costs for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 health related problems were ₦11746.25 (USD30.79) and ₦11784.9 (USD 30.89), respectively. Household expenditure for hand sanitizers, facemasks, hand gloves, and disinfectants increased significantly during the COVID-19 restriction lockdown (p < 0.05). However, expenditure on education, water, electricity, fuel, internet data, clothing and wears, toiletries decreased significantly during the lockdown period (p < 0.05). Conclusion: this study suggests that the costs of continuing COVID-19 restrictions could have huge economic consequences on households and health system

Geology and Occurrences of Limestone and Marble in Nigeria

Limestone occurs only in the sedimentary basins in Nigeria. It occurs mainly in the Benue Trough (Lower, Middle and Upper), Sokoto, Dahomey and Borno (Chad) Basins. Limestone-forming environments (shallow coastal marine conditions), appear to have occurred several times in the geological history of the basins. However, the limestone deposits of the Benue Trough (Lower, Middle and Upper), appear to contain the largest and most economically viable limestone resources in the country. Nearly all the limestone deposits in the country are used for the manufacture of cement. Marble, a metamorphosed limestone occurs within the migmatite-gneiss-schist-quartzite complex as relicts of sedimentary carbonate rocks. These are Upper Proterozoic schist belt metasediments which are normally marked by a general absence of carbonates. Such marble deposits appear to be limited to the western portions of the south and central parts of the country. Several of these marble deposits are currently being exploited for cement (Ukpilla and Obajana) and decorative stone (Jakura, Kwakuti and Igbetti) with some production of ground rock for industrial use. Limestone and marble are among the few industrial minerals and rocks that have been utilized to any great extent in the country. This article summarizes the information available on the country’s limestone and marble deposits (the geology, occurrences, characteristics, reserves, production and quality). Recommendations are proposed for developing the limestone and marble industry to make a positive contribution to the national economy. Keywords: Nigeria, Sedimentary, Precambrian, Calcite, Dolomite, Carbonate Rocks

Appraisal of the Economic Geology of Nigerian Coal Resources

The coal deposits discovered so far in Nigeria are located mainly in the Lower, Middle and Upper Benue Trough. The coal deposits of the Anambra Basin in the Lower Benue Trough, located in southeastern Nigeria contain the largest and most economically viable coal resources. In the Lower Benue Trough, lignite and sub-bituminous coals occur within the Mamu Formation (Middle Campanian – Late Maastrichtian). High-volatile bituminous coals are found within the Awgu Formation (Middle Turonian – Early Santonian) in the Middle Benue Trough while the Upper Benue Trough contains lignites and sub-bituminous coals in the Gombe Sandstone Formation (Early Campanian – Late Maastrichtian). On the economic geology, the sub-bituminous coals in the Lower and Upper Benue Trough are best for combustion, power generation and chemical production and better for liquefaction while the high-volatile bituminous coals in the Middle Benue Trough, besides its best for liquefaction, are the most suitable as raw material for coke making in steel manufacture. Keywords: Nigerian Coal, Benue Trough, Sub-bituminous, Bituminous, Coking

Geophysical Investigation of Pavement Failure on a Portion of Okene-Lokoja Highway, North Central Nigeria

Non-destructive geophysical methods involving electrical resistivity sounding and very low frequency electromagnetic profiling were used in investigating the cause of pavement failure on a portion of Okene-Lokoja highway North Central Nigeria. Seventeen (17) soundings were acquired and very low frequency electromagnetic profiling data were taken at 10m intervals along 2 traverses. The geoelectric section shows that the unstable portion of the highway is characterized by thin topsoil and low resistivity weathered layer(clay) between 58?m-125?m and partly weathered/fractured bedrock with resistivity between 69?m-140?, while the VLF-EM profile and 2-D VLF-EM pseudosection indicate the presence of conducting bodies with  (> 50%) positive peak of the filtered real amplitude (anomalous high current density) which is indicating clayey material or linear geological structures such as faults, fractures, joints and lithological contacts . Low resistivity weathered layer (clay), partly fractured bedrock and linear geological structures have been identified as the cause of pavement failure in the study area. Keywords: Geological structures, Geophysical method, Pseudosection, Non-destructive, fractured bedrock

The Effectiveness of Personalisation on Health Outcomes of Older People: Systematic Review

Purpose: As people get older, they tend to have long-term conditions requiring health and social care intervention such as personalisation. Personalisation is person centred ensuring independence and control. To date, no systematic review has examined the effectiveness of personalisation. This review examined the effectiveness of personalisation in older people. Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was undertaken. Databases searched included: Science Direct and Medline (PubMed) NHSEED and CINAHL. Inclusion criteria were older people living in their own homes receiving personalisation. Excluded were studies carried out in nursing homes. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality of assessment. Results: Search yielded 151 published studies with titles and abstracts; 143 studies were excluded and eight included. Studies included showed health outcomes of older people receiving personalisation improved significantly. Conclusions: Review found evidence of improvement in quality of life and mobility in older people

Elemental composition of blood and hair of mentally–ill patients using ICPOES techniques

Elemental concentrations of blood and hair of 40 mentally-ill patients and 40 controls (healthy subjects) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) in order to find out the metal burden of the patients with their level of significance and possible relationship of such elements with mental illness. Generally, higher concentrations of trace elements were obtained in the hair than in the blood. A concentration range of 90 - 400 ìg/g was obtained for Mg, K and Fe in hair of patients and controls, 80-7400 ìg/g was obtained in their blood; other elements range 0.001-30 ìg/g in both blood and hair of patients and controls. Comparative study of statistical significance of median values between different groups was determined by applying a non parametric test (Mann-Whitney) showed that concentrations of Ba, Be, Cr, Li, Mg, Fe and K were significantly higher in patients’ blood, while Al, Ba, Be, Na, Cd, Cr, Li, K, Mn,Mg and Sr were significantly higher in patient’s hair. Concentrations of most elements are higher in the hair and blood of the mentally ill patients than in the healthy controls. Deficiency of Cu and Zn might be causally related to the illness

The Economic Burden of Musculoskeletal Disorders Resulting from Road Trafic Accident in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Objectives Approximately 20 – 50 million people sustain nonfatal injuries as a result of road traffic accidents (RTA). Treatment costs as well as lost wages associated with this nonfatal injury are substantial. The study reviewed the economic burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders caused from RTA in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Health Economic Evaluations Database (HEED), and Web of Science Database from inception to September 2019. Studies that assessed the economic burden of MSK resulting from RTA in LMICs published in English language were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Drummond and Jefferson criteria. A descriptive data synthesis was used to present the results. Results The search identified 456 studies, and nine of them met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The studies were conducted in Iran (n = 3), Nigeria (n = 2), Vietnam (n = 1), India (n = 1), Thailand (n = 1), and Nepal (n = 1). The quality score of the included studies were ≥ 50%. The mean age of the patients in the included studies ranged between 24.6 to 40.3 years. Mean direct and indirect costs in the included studies ranged from $11.04 to$2494 and $33.3 to$189.2, respectively over 12 months. Hospitalisation and treatment were identified as the major cost drivers. Conclusions The findings of the review showed that the costs of injuries resulting from RTA were considerably high relative to health expenditures levels. Hence, it is important that prevention strategies be in place to reduce the economic burden of MSK disorders caused by RTA in LMICs