Psychosocial factors associated with psychiatric morbidity in higher institution students in Nigeria

Introduction: Mental health disorders in undergraduates are often undetected and may predispose to other academic and social complications. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of probable psychiatric morbidity among students of University of Ilorin, Nigeria and the psycho-social factors that are associated with psychiatric morbidity in them. Methods: Socio-demographic questionnaire and the 12-item General health questionnaire (GHQ-12) were administered to 3,300 undergraduate students to assess psychosocial variables and psychiatric morbidity respectively. Results: About 23.5% of respondents scored >3 using the GHQ-12 questionnaire, signifying a likehood of psychiatric morbidity. Students from polygamous families were 1.3 times more likely to have GHQ scores of >3 than those from monogamous (OR=1.276, P=0.026). Those who had unemployed fathers were twice more likely to have a GHQ > 3 than those with employed fathers. (OR=2.084, P=0.005).Those who lived in houses with shared toilet facilities were 1.3 times more likely to have GHQ >3 (OR=1.310, P=0.028) Conclusion: This study calls for a careful consideration and modification of the various psychosocial factors associated with pschiatric morbidity in order to ensure a mentally healthy and vibrant student community

Benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing in the COVID-19 era: Adjusting to the new normal

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous effect on the medical and scientific community. Measures instituted to curb the spread of the disease such as physical distancing and ban on large gatherings have significantly altered conferencing activities of medical professional associations. With no end in sight to the pandemic, it is certain that medical professional associations may have to make do with purely virtual or hybrid conferencing for some time to come. The objective of this paper is to highlight the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and AJOL databases from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 for publications describing the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing during the pandemic. This, together with authors' experience formed the resource base for this work. Conclusion: We propose ways the scientific community in Nigeria can maximize the virtual conferencing while the pandemic lasts. We also advocate increased discussion about how to improve the virtual conferencing culture and the development of guidelines for purely virtual or hybrid scientific conferences

Objectif de l'étude: La pandémie de COVID-19 a eu un effet considérable sur la communauté médicale et scientifique. Les mesures instituées pour freiner la propagation de la maladie, telles que l'éloignement physique et l'interdiction des grands rassemblements, ont considérablement modifié les activités de conférence des associations professionnelles médicales. Sans fin en vue de la pandémie, il est certain que les associations professionnelles médicales devront se contenter de conférences purement virtuelles ou hybrides pendant un certain temps encore. L'objectif de cet article est de mettre en évidence les avantages, les inconvénients et les défis de la conférence virtuelle. Méthodes de l'étude : Nous avons effectué des recherches dans les bases de données Pubmed, Embase, Scopus et AJOL du 1er janvier 2021 au 31 décembre 2021 pour trouver des publications décrivant les avantages, les inconvénients et les défis des conférences virtuelles pendant la pandémie. Ceci, combiné à l'expérience des auteurs, a constitué la base de ressources pour ce travail. Conclusion : Nous proposons des moyens pour que la communauté scientifique du Nigéria puisse maximiser les conférences virtuelles pendant la durée de la pandémie. Nous préconisons également une discussion accrue sur la manière d'améliorer la culture des conférences virtuelles et l'élaboration de lignes directrices pour les conférences scientifiques purement virtuelles ou hybrides

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Ilorin: screening with the conner's teachers' rating scale

Background: The prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or its risk in North Central Nigeria has not been adequately reported. The consequences of missing the disorder and its co-morbidities are usually costly to the society. Method: Using a multi-stage sampling technique, nine primary schools from where a total of 1,480 pupils were selected across the three local government areas within Ilorin metropolis (two public and one private school from each LGA) we selected. An ADHD assessment tool - the short version of Conner's Teacher Rating Scale was administered on the pupils through their respective class teachers after training the teachers on how to administer the tool. They were classified into Inattention ADHD and Hyperactive/impulsive ADHD. Results: Of the 1480 (741 males and 739 female) pupils recruited, public schools contributed 1033 (69.8%) pupils while 447(30.2%) were from the private schools. A prevalence of 15.8% was found for ADHD risk. Statistically significant differences were present in the male to the female distribution of the Inattention ADHD, Hyperactivity ADHD (each with p< 0.05) but not in the overall ADHD index(p> 0.05). The ADHD Index was higher in the public schools. Conclusion: Prevalence of primary pupils aged 6-12 years in Ilorin at risk of ADHD is 15.8%, no significant gender variation was found. It is hereby recommended that Pre-primary school entry screening for ADHD should be instituted considered to enhance early recognition and prompt intervention so as to save the country from bad childhood that develops into bad adulthood with its myriads of anti-social and behavioural consequences

Intelligence quotient of neurologically impaired children attending neurology clinic in a nigerian tertiary institution

Background: The need to identify the intellectual capability of neurologically impaired children dictates their educability which can be estimated through their intelligence quotient (IQ). Draw-a-man test for IQ estimation is available, easy and has been validated in Nigeria. Method: Through a prospective, cross-sectional study that lasted 12 months (January-December, 2011), children aged 4 years and above attending neurology clinic were recruited once they have no severe motor or sensory limitations affecting their upper limbs and can obey the instruction to draw a person. Anthropometry was carried out on them and they were comfortably seated to draw a person. The parents or caregivers were instructed not to make any suggestion or hint to them and no time limit was given. Their drawings were assessed using the 52 parameters of Ziler and interpreted accordingly. Ethical procedures were adhered to. The analysis was done using SPSS version 16 and an interactive calculation tool for chi-square tests of goodness of fit and independence. Results: Seventy-five (45 male, 30 female) children met the inclusion criteria. Their clinical conditions were Epilepsy 48 (64%), Cerebral Palsy 6 (8%), ADHD 5 (6.7%), Down Syndrome 4 (5.3%), Speech/Hearing impairment 3 (4.0%), Hypothyroidism 2 (2.7%) and 7 (9.3%) others. Their ages ranged from 4 years to 16 years (mean±SD = 9.7± 3.8 years). Their IQ distribution were Normal 4 (5.3%), Borderline 12 (16.0%), Mild Mental Retardation 16 (21.3%), Moderate Mental Retardation 19 (25.3%), Severe and Profound Mental Retardation 24 (32.0%) with no significant difference in relation to their birth order. Conclusions: Ninety-six per cent of the study population had IQ below normal. Epilepsy was the commonest condition seen in the Paediatric Neurology clinic and all categories of IQ are seen among children with epilepsy