The association between intimate partner violence, psychiatric morbidity amongst pregnant women and partner alcohol use in southern Nigeria

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is common, although prevalence and correlates amongst pregnant women in developing countries are poorly researched. Aim: To identify the magnitude of IPV, and its relationship with psychiatric morbidity and partner alcohol use. Setting: This study was conducted among women receiving routine ante-natal care at a secondary level healthcare facility in southern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by recruiting pregnant women (n = 395) attending the Ante-Natal Clinic of the Central Hospital, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria, between August 2015 and February 2016 and undertaking face-to-face interviews utilising a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Composite Abuse Scale and the 20-item Self-reporting Questionnaire. Results: Past 12-month prevalence of IPV was 24.8%, with emotional abuse being the commonest type (89.8%). Forty-six participants (11.6%) screened positive for probable psychiatric morbidity. Predictors of IPV included partner alcohol use in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16­6.16; p < 0.02), having a psychiatric morbidity (aOR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.27­5.04; p < 0.01), being single (aOR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.25­3.58; p < 0.01) and multiparous (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.43­4.38; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Intimate partner violence was common amongst pregnant women in Nigeria. Identified modifiable risk factors can be targets for screening and intervention for women in these settings

Barriers to care among people with schizophrenia attending a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Nigeria

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries and their caregivers face multiple barriers to care-seeking and continuous engagement with treatment services. Identifying specific barrier patterns would aid targeted interventions aimed at improving treatment access.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine stigma- and non-stigma-related barriers to care-seeking among persons with schizophrenia in Nigeria.Setting: This study was conducted at the Outpatient Clinics of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study of a dyad of persons with schizophrenia and caregivers (n = 161) attending outpatient services at a neuro-psychiatric hospital in Nigeria. Stigma- and non-stigma-related barriers were assessed using the 30-item Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE) scale.Results: Lack of insight, preference for alternative care, illness severity and financial constraints were common barriers to care-seeking among persons with schizophrenia. Females were significantly more likely to report greater overall treatment barrier (p < 0.01) and stigma-related barriers (p < 0.02).Conclusion: This study shows that attitudinal barriers impede care access and engagement among persons with schizophrenia in Nigeria

Depression among patients with diabetes mellitus in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Objectives. Depression is associated with diabetes mellitus and affects treatment goals negatively. We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and identify its socio-demographic or clinical correlates among patients with diabetes mellitus attending an out-patient clinic in Nigeria. Methods. Two hundred consecutively recruited diabetes patients (index group) were compared with a similar number of apparently healthy controls in a cross-sectional survey. In both groups, in addition to obtaining socio-demographic details; depression was diagnosed using the Schedule for the Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), while the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression symptom severity. Results. Sixty (30) diabetes patients met a SCAN diagnosis for clinical depression, compared with 19 (9.5) in the control group. Having a smaller income and more children were significantly correlated with higher depression symptoms on the BDI. Conclusion. Depression is highly co-morbid with diabetes mellitus. The care of individuals with diabetes mellitus should include the screening and possible treatment for depression in order to achieve and sustain treatment goals