Work-related psychological distress among teachers in southwest Nigeria: a rural and urban comparison

Background: The jobs of teachers involve high demand and low control, which predisposes them to psychological distress. Differences in the basic infrastructure in rural and urban areas may influence the psychological health status of teachers. Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of psychological distress and associated work-related factors among secondary school teachers in rural and urban areas of southwest Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was utilised. Teachers from rural (n = 578) and urban (n = 596) areas were selected using multistage sampling. Sociodemographic and occupational characteristics were recorded, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to assess psychological distress, using a cut-off score of ≥ 3 to indicate distress. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences between categorical variables and Student's t-test was used to check for differences in means. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine predictors of psychological distress. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: Rural-based teachers were significantly younger than those in urban locations (p = 0.013), had fewer mean years of work experience (p = 0.043), taught larger class sizes (p < 0.000), had more financial dependants (p = 0.001), and spent less time at work each day (p < 0.000). More rural- than urban-based teachers had other jobs in addition to teaching (p = 0.023). Overall, 38.1% of the teachers were psychologically distressed: 42.7% in rural and 33.6% in urban schools (p = 0.001). Factors associated with psychological distress were being married (p = 0.007), teaching in a public school (p = 0.007), and teaching > 5 subjects (p < 0.001). The adjusted odds of psychological distress were higher in teachers in rural schools (AOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02­1.67), and in public schools (AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.19­2.11). The adjusted odds increased by 19% for every additional subject taught, and by 2% for every hour spent teaching. Conclusion: Teachers in rural schools had more psychological distress than those in urban ones. Distress was associated with both individual and workrelated characteristics. Teachers' work conditions in rural schools need to be improved to provide an incentive for them to work and remain in remote

Ultrasound Prevalence of Gallstone Disease in Diabetic Patients at Ibadan; Nigeria

Background: Gallstones (GS) in the gallbladder (GB) can be responsible for a whole spectrum of disease entities which may lead to a surgical emergency with high mortality. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a debilitating disease that affects all systems in the body; and literature documents a higher incidence of gallstone disease (GSD) and its complications in diabetics than in the non-diabetic population. Most local studies on the association between GS formation and DM have focused on type 2 diabetics. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of GS in both type 1 and type 2 DM and elucidate the demographic and social factors associated with formation of GS in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Four hundred diabetic patients aged between 15 and 82 years had abdominal ultrasound to diagnose or exclude the presence of GS. Results: GS was found in 70 (17.5) of the 400 patients. Positive cases had a male to female ratio of 3:4 and 59 (51.92) were above the age of 40 years with type 2 DM. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m 2 was seen in 56 (48.3) patients; smoking and alcohol intake were insignificantly implicated. Jaundice was recorded in 8 (11.4) while abdominal pain was in 24 (34.3) patients; and 52 (74.3) patients of those with GSD had had diabetes for more than 4 years. Conclusion: GSD in DM is influenced significantly by age; BMI; and duration of the disease; while gender; social factors; and parity do not influence as strong associated factors

Perceived family support and blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes

This study aimed to find out if levels of family support are correlated with blood glucose control among Nigerians with type 2 diabetes. One hundred and fifty (150) patients attending the diabetes clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, were assessed for their perception of family support using a validated family support measure. Fasting plasma glucose was used as the index of glycaemic control, and 39% of subjects were rated as having 'strong' perceived family support, while 31% and 11% were rated wth 'weak' and 'no' perceived family support, respectively. Mean fasting plasma glucose was 7.0±2.5 mmol/L, with lower levels of blood glucose in those who perceived their family as supportive, compared with those who perceived their family as unsupportive. Positive family support was found to correlate positively with blood glucose control

Invasive cervical carcinoma in two sisters

The occurence of pre-invasive cervical carcinoma among siblings and in mother-daughter pairs has been reported previously in Europe. Invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in two Nigerian sisters within a period of three months is reported. It is suggested that sisters and daughters of patients with cervical cancer may be at a higher risk of developing the lesion because of similar socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and should therefore have regular cervical screening