ABSTRACT
Background: Diagnosis of ADHD depends on manifestation of symptoms in at least two different settings. This therefore emphasizes the importance of multiple informants; parents and teachers. However perception could differ because of differences and inconsistencies across different settings. This is particularly important in rural settings in Africa where the educational attainment and outlook of teachers are very different from those of the parents. The study is aimed at comparing the presentations of children with ADHD in the rural area; across two different settings: home and school. Methods: The teachers of 181 rural primary school children in Ogberuru in Imo state; south eastern; Nigeria completed the school version of ADHD rating scale-IV; and their parents completed a Socio demographic questionnaire and the home versions of the ADHD rating scale IV. Results: Of the 18 symptoms of the condition; there were significant differences in the rate of identification in eight symptoms. These symptoms include 'being easily distracted' (p=0.0427); 'difficulty following through on instruction' (p=0.0026); 'fails to give close attention to details (p=0.0001); 'avoids tasks necessary for tasks' (p=0.0013); 'difficulty playing quietly (p=0.0059 ) ; 'talks excessively' (p=0.0023); 'intrudes on others' (p=0.0004); and 'seems not to listen when spoken to directly' (p=0.0002). They were all consistently more manifest in school settings than in their homes. Conclusion: Teachers identified ADHD symptoms more commonly than parents. They could therefore play critical roles in programs aimed at improving early identification and management of children with ADHD especially in rural Africa where healthcare facilities are scarce
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis , Early Diagnosis , Schools , Signs and SymptomsABSTRACT
Background: Diagnosis of ADHD depends on manifestation of symptoms in at least two different settings. This therefore emphasizes the importance of multiple informants; parents and teachers. However perception could differ because of differences and inconsistencies across different settings. This is particularly important in rural settings in Africa where the educational attainment and outlook of teachers are very different from those of the parents. The study is aimed at comparing the presentations of children with ADHD in the rural area; across two different settings: home and school.Methods: The teachers of 181 rural primary school children in Ogberuru in Imo state; south eastern; Nigeria completed the school version of ADHD rating scale-IV; and their parents completed a Socio demographic questionnaire and the home versions of the ADHD rating scale IV. Results: Of the 18 symptoms of the condition; there were significant differences in the rate of identification in eight symptoms. These symptoms include 'being easily distracted' (p=0.0427); 'difficulty following through on instruction' (p=0.0026); 'fails to give close attention to details (p=0.0001); 'avoids tasks necessary for tasks' (p=0.0013); 'difficulty playing quietly (p=0.0059 ) ; 'talks excessively' (p=0.0023); 'intrudes on others' (p=0.0004); and 'seems not to listen when spoken to directly' (p=0.0002). They were all consistently more manifest in school settings than in their homes. Conclusion: Teachers identified ADHD symptoms more commonly than parents. They could therefore play critical roles in programs aimed at improving early identification and management of children with ADHD especially in rural Africa where healthcare facilities are scarce
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis , Child , Schools , Signs and SymptomsABSTRACT
Background: Many children in Nigeria face a life of poverty; family instability; inadequate educational opportunities and poor physical and mental health which hinder their ability to develop into healthy adults; live an improved quality of life or fulfil their life aspirations. These factors have also been associated with juvenile delinquency and need for institutional care. Objectives: As a step toward providing comprehensive services for incarcerated children in Nigeria; this study aimed to identify the psychosocial needs as well as types of psychopathology among a group of incarcerated children at the Ibadan remand home. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of children and adolescents at the Ibadan remand home was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 59 children were assessed over a one year period. Majority (90) were in need of care and protection. All (100) had significant psychosocial needs presenting as difficulty with their primary support; economic; social environment; or educational systems. Majority (97) also demonstrated significant psychopathology and anxiety; suicidal and depressive symptoms were the most commonly elicited. Conclusions: Incarcerated children in this study showed significant mental health needs which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This should be carried out through the collaborative efforts of mental health professionals with various stakeholders in child care
Subject(s)
Juvenile Delinquency , Psychopathology/psychology , Social JusticeABSTRACT
Background: Many children in Nigeria face a life of poverty; family instability; inadequate educational opportunities and poor physical and mental health which hinder their ability to develop into healthy adults; live an improved quality of life or fulfil their life aspirations. These factors have also been associated with juvenile delinquency and need for institutional care. Objectives: As a step toward providing comprehensive services for incarcerated children in Nigeria; this study aimed to identify the psychosocial needs as well as types of psychopathology among a group of incarcerated children at the Ibadan remand home. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of children and adolescents at the Ibadan remand home was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 59 children were assessed over a one year period. Majority (90) were in need of care and protection. All (100) had significant psychosocial needs presenting as difficulty with their primary support; economic; social environment; or educational systems. Majority (97) also demonstrated significant psychopathology and anxiety; suicidal and depressive symptoms were the most commonly elicited. Conclusions: Incarcerated children in this study showed significant mental health needs which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This should be carried out through the collaborative efforts of mental health professionals with various stakeholders in child care
Subject(s)
Juvenile Delinquency , Psychopathology/psychology , Social JusticeABSTRACT
Objective:This study assessed teachers' perspectives on children's mental health needs and the development of school-based mental health programmes in South-West Nigeria. Method: Focus group discussions were held with teachers from randomly selected urban and rural primary schools in Ibadan; Nigeria. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Teachers identified significant mental health problems in school-age children and described a variety of bio-psychosocial contributing factors. These ranged from problems with primary support systems to poverty; spiritual factors; medical illnesses and genetic vulnerability. The school environment was recognised as an ideal place for dealing with child mental health issues despite deficiencies in teachers' knowledge; skills and resources. A school mental health programme that would provide training for teachers and awareness campaigns as well as human; material and financial resources was proposed. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide a background for understanding the current state of interventions to address child mental health problems in a resource poor country in sub- Saharan Africa and specific areas where future program development is most likely to have an impact
Subject(s)
Child , Faculty , Mental HealthABSTRACT
Background: Psychoactive substance misuse has for many years been an issue of increasing health and social importance in Nigeria. This is especially so for the critical adolescent period marked by several changes including the psychological phenomenon of experimentation. Studies carried out in the last two decades in Nigeria have identified adolescents as a major group involved in the use of psychoactive substances. However, most studies employed quantitative methods to gather information on drug misuse. In developing programmes for prevention and control of drug misuse it is important to complement quantitative information with qualitative data. This article reviews the available data on drug use in Nigerian adolescents and utilises a qualitative method to explore the psychosocial dynamics of drug use among adolescents. Methods: Review of current literature on drug use among adolescents in Nigeria and in-depth interviews of two adolescents with poly-drug misuse to identify psychosocial dynamics surrounding their use of psychoactive substances. Results: Surveys suggest that in both in-and out-of-school adolescents, the socially acceptable drugs like alcohol and cigarettes are commonly used. The patients interviewed illustrate the important 'gateway' theory of drug progression. Psychological dynamics identified include peer pressure, experimentation and conduct problems while social factors include poverty, family problems, and social acceptability of local alcoholic drinks like palm-wine. Conclusion: These identified factors must be utilised in developing drug prevention programmes. The public health implications of the social acceptability of palm wine, especially its consumption by children, needs to be further explored