Prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in south east Nigeria

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and socio-economic determinants of autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in South East, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the prevalence and socio-economic pattern of childhood autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in Enugu and Ebonyi states, South East Nigeria. The questionnaire was adapted from American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The study was carried out between June and October, 2014. The schools were selected by listing all the mixed schools in the urban and semi- urban areas by simple random sampling. Results: A total of 721 subjects completed the questionnaire. The age of respondents ranged between 3 and 18 years, with mean age of 12.71 and standard deviation of 3.03 years. Twenty one children fulfilled the criteria for autism giving a prevalence of 2.9%. There is a significant association between age in categories (fishers exact test, p = 0.013) and social class (p=0.033). Conclusion: The prevalence of autism was 2.9%; and the socio-economic characteristics of childhood autism in South East Nigeria are similar to those in other parts of the world

The Civilian Vascular Trauma in a Low‑Income Country: The Determinant Factors of Morbidity and Mortality

Background: Civilian vascular injury is relatively common in the West African subregion, but it is highly underreported. Aim/Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the patients managed for civilian vascular surgeries and to determine the factors causing morbidity and mortality in low‑income countries. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study spanning a period of 13 years (2007–2019) of civilian vascular injuries managed in a tertiary hospital in a low‑income country. We obtained data from our hospital record department. Data obtained and analyzed were demography, etiology, vessels affected, pattern of presentation, stratification, and treatment. Results: Within the envisaged period, 58 patients were affected in civilian vascular trauma with a mean of 4.5 cases per year. The male‑to‑female  ratio was 0.9:0.1. The age range of patients affected was from 0–10 to 71–80, with the age group of 21–30 years being the most affected. Male was more affected (87.9%). Motor vehicle crashes were the most common etiology agent (42.0%). The femoral artery was the most commonly injured vessel (31.3%). In the pattern of presentation, bleeding with shock was dominant (49.8%). Lateral tarsorrhaphy accounted for the major vascular  treatment interventions (30.2%). Conclusion: The outcome was very variable and depended on warm ischemic time, type and/or mechanism of injury, collateral blood supply at the site of injury, and comorbidity. Keywords: Amputation, civilian, injury, vascular, warm ischemic tim

Determinants of depression among medical students in two medical schools from South East Nigeria: A screening test

Objectives: This study aims to assess the susceptibility of depression among clinical students from two medical schools from South East Nigeria, using a screening test questionnaire.Methods: A total of 352 clinical medical students from two universities were enrolled by simple random sampling. A pretested self‑administered depression questionnaire was used to evaluate degrees of depression among the participants.Result: Out of the 352 students studied, 14 (4%) of the students are susceptible to moderate to severe depression while none are susceptible to mild depression.Among the students, gender and age were not significantly associated with depression (χ2 = 2.896; P = 0.089). Socioeconomic class of the students was not significantly associated with depression (χ2 = 2.186; P = 0.335).Conclusion: A relatively low number of medical students are susceptible to depression. Depression among medical students is unaffected by gender, age, and socioeconomic class.Keywords: Depression, depression questionnaire, medical student, Nigeri