A review of quality of life studies in Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders

The concept of Quality of Life is becoming an increasingly important measure of the impact of psychiatric disorders and is now recognized as useful in the healthcare evaluation of patients with psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review was to document and analyze the research data on quality of life in Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders. The electronic databases, Medline and Pubmed were searched for published articles on quality of life in Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders. A total of 6studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies employed the generic World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale – Brief version, which is the only quality of life instrument whose psychometric properties have been evaluated among Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders. Some of the studies revealed that quality of life was significantly associated with socio demographic factors such marital and employment status and social support. Poor quality of life was reported to be associated with illnessrelated factors such as co morbid medical problems, presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and non adherence to medications. All the studies with the exception of two were conducted in centers located in South-western Nigeria. Quality of life in Nigerian patients suffering from psychiatric disorders is under-researched. There is need for more studies to prospectively investigate quality of life and associated factors among Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders.Keywords: Quality of life; Review; Nigeria; Psychiatric disorder

The relationship between intimate partner violence and postpartum depression in Osogbo, Nigeria

Background: Postpartum depression is the most prevalent postpartum mental health problem. Risk factors for postpartum depression include psychosocial stressors. One of these psychosocial stressors could be intimate partner violence. Co-occurrence of intimate partner violence and postpartum depression is considered deadly co morbidity because it can increase the risk of homicide and suicide. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between intimate partner violence and depression among postnatal women attending postnatal and infant welfare clinics of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 postpartum women who attended postnatal and infant welfare clinics of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Osogbo using Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Socio-demographic questionnaire.  Respondents that were found to be EPDS positive as well as 10% of EPDS negative respondents were further assessed with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) (depression subscale) to diagnose depression.Results: Respondents that experienced intimate partner violence were five times as likely to have postpartum depression compared to those that did not experience IPV. Logistic regression showed that intimate partner violence independently predicted postpartum depression in respondents (OR 4.799, CI 1.844-12.493).Conclusions: Postpartum depression was significantly higher among women that experienced intimate partner violence. This observation has implications for mental health of women, therefore, any woman with suspected postpartum depression should be asked about IPV as this could be a pointer to IPV

Socio-demographic factors associated with intimate partner violence in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A cross sectional descriptive study was done of 373 women who attended the antenatal clinic and welfare units of a primary health center in Ile-Ife.The objective of this study was to determine, among a sample of women attending a primary health center in Ile-Ife, the socio-demographicfactors associated with intimate partner violence. Respondents were aged 18-37 years; the majority of them (73.8%) were aged 21-30 years (mean age was 24.9 ± 4.09). Three quarters (73.5%) were married in a monogamous setting and well over half (60.1%) were employed. The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the previous twelve months was 36.7%. Significant socio-demographic correlates of intimate partner violence were the age of the respondents (younger), marital status (single and separated), marriage type (polygamous), employment (being employed), level of education (secondary school education) and having children.Also, Respondent’s and partner’s use of alcohol were significantly associated with intimate partner violence

Reliability and Validity of a Satisfaction Scale in a Nigerian Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic.

Background :There are no reports from Nigeria of assessment of patients\' satisfaction with outpatient psychiatric services. Aim:The reliability and preliminary validity of the Charleston Psychiatric Outpatient Satisfaction Scale (CPOSS) was investigated in a Nigerian population . Method:The CPOSS was administered to 220 patients seen at the psychiatric clinics of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital , Ile-Ife, Nigeria. They completed this 15 item self-rated instrument that assesses patient satisfaction with services using a 5 point response format. Results:The internal consistency for the scale was high ( a=0.91), and item total correlations ranged between 0.33 to 0.70. Its convergent validity was supported by significant correlations of all items with the overall scale score,with a range of 0.30 to 0.68( Pearson\'s r). Mean scores for items except “ parking area” ranged from 3.0 to 3.7. Bivariate correlations for all items except item “13” ‘parking\' showed significant associations.Seventy one percent of clients rated that they would definitely recommend the service to friends or family members. Subjects were most dissatisfied with time waiting to be seen . Conclusions:These results provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the scale in a Nigerian outpatient psychiatric clinic service Keywords: Patients' Satisfaction Scale, Psychiatric Care, Nigeria Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 31-3

Alcohol use disorders among Nigerian University students: Prevalence and Sociodemographic correlates

environments and encounter new social and institutional factors that may foster heavy alcohol use. Little is known about alcohol use disorders in non-western cultures. Aims This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and examine the socio-demographic correlates of alcohol use disorders among students in Nigerian colleges. Method A cross sectional survey in which 2,658 undergraduates (males=1913, females=745) from 6 colleges in Osun state, south-western Nigeria were assessed for alcohol use disorders using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results The 12-month prevalence for alcohol dependence is 0.8% (1.1% for male and 0.13% for female) and for alcohol abuse is 3.5% (4.4% for male and 1.1% for female). Factors independently associated with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder include parental drinking (OR 12.00, 95% CI 6.32-22.78), male gender (OR 5.40, 95% CI 2.62-11.14), higher economic status (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.59-4.18) and being non-religious (OR 9.92, 95% CI 4.43-22.23). Conclusions Alcohol use disorders are common among Nigerian college students. Effective methods of early identification and forms of anti-alcoholic education are needed. Parental drinking habits and religiosity will have to be considered while planning intervention and preventive strategies.Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 5-