7 research outputs found
Self-medication with antibiotics for the treatment of menstrual symptoms in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is an important factor contributing to the development of bacterial
antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics
for the treatment of menstrual symptoms among university women in Southwest Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to female undergraduate and graduate students (n = 706) at
four universities in Southwest Nigeria in 2008. The universities were selected by convenience and the study
samples within each university were randomly selected cluster samples. The survey was self-administered and
included questions pertaining to menstrual symptoms, analgesic and antibiotic use patterns, and demographics.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
Results: The response rate was 95.4%. Eighty-six percent (95% CI: 83-88%) of participants experienced menstrual
symptoms, and 39% (95% CI: 36-43%) reported using analgesics to treat them. Overall, 24% (95% CI: 21-27%) of
participants reported self-medicated use of antibiotics to treat the following menstrual symptoms: cramps, bloating,
heavy bleeding, headaches, pimples/acne, moodiness, tender breasts, backache, joint and muscle pain. Factors
associated with this usage were: lower levels of education (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.1, p-value: 0.03); nonscience
major (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.03-2.50, p-value: 0.04); usage of analgesics (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.07-4.86, p-value:
<0.001); and mild to extreme heavy bleeding (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01-2.67, p-value: 0.05) and pimples/acne (OR: 1.57,
95% CI: 0.98-2.54, p-value: 0.06). Ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were used to treat the
most symptoms. Doctors or nurses (6%, 95% CI: 4-7%), friends (6%, 95% CI: 4-7%) and family members (7%, 95% CI:
5-8%) were most likely to recommend the use of antibiotics for menstrual symptoms, while these drugs were most
often obtained from local chemists or pharmacists (10.2%, 95% CI: 8-12%).
Conclusions: This is the first formal study to report that approximately 1 out of 4 university women surveyed in
Southwest Nigeria self-medicate with antibiotics to treat menstrual symptoms. This practice could provide monthly,
low-dose exposures to antibiotics among users. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the impacts of selfmedication
on student health
Suicide in Psychiatric Patients: Two Case Reports
Suicide is when hostility and aggression is directed towards self. In Nigeria, suicide among young men may appear to be on the increase especially among individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders. We hereby present two patients of the department of
behavioural medicine of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria who recently committed suicide.
Key Words: suicide, psychiatric disorder
Psychiatric Psychosocial Rebilibation in Nigeria; What Needs to be Done
Nigerians who suffer from severe mental illness also need psychiatricpsychosocial rehabilitation. Despite the availability of a wide range of mental health services in Nigeria, majority of Nigerians with mental health relatively have their needs unmet. To fill this unmet gap, Nigerian psychiatrists should also make psychiatric psychosocial interventions available at the primary health care centres and in the rural communities. When these services are available in the community, Nigerians with mental health disorders can easily acquire the available social, emotional and intellectual skills provided by mental health experts to enable them live and work with minimal supervision from clinicians. The aim of this paper is therefore to further sensitize Nigeria mental health care providers on the need to make psychiatric psychosocial services available at the primary health care centres and rural communities for every Nigerian with mental illness.Key words: psychosocial, rehabilitation, psychiatry, Nigeri