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

Oral health seeking behaviour among patients attending outpatient clinic in University of Ilorin teaching hospital (UITH) Ilorin

Introduction: In sub ­ Saharan Africa, oral health services are greatly hampered by low availability and poor accessibility to health care and these are various interrelated factors responsible. This study determined the factors that influence oral health seeking behavior among patients attending outpatients' clinic. Methodology: A total of 460patients were selected into the study from the outpatients' clinic using systematic random sampling. Data was collected and was analyzed using SPSS 17. The significant level was set at 0.05 Results: Of the 97.3% of the respondents with awareness of oral health facility, 90.9% of them had oral health facility within 5km distance. The commonest complaint was toothache. Majority of the respondents (88.2%) accessed orthodox oral health services mostly for teeth extraction (61.3%). There was statistically significant difference between the awareness of Oral health facility and closeness to residence. Conclusion: Age, awareness and attitude have positive effect on health seeking behavior of patients.

Awareness and coverage of the national health insurance scheme among formal sector workers in Ilorin, Nigeria

A prepayment scheme for health through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was commenced in Nigeria about ten years ago. Nigeria operates a federal system of government. Sub-national levels possess a high degree of autonomy in a number of sectors including health. It is important to assess the level of coverage of the scheme among the formal sector workers in Nigeria as a proxy to gauge the extent of coverage of the scheme and derive suitable lessons that could be used in its expansion. This is a cross-sectional; descriptive survey carried out among formal sector workers in Ilorin Kwara State; Nigeria. A stratified sampling technique was used to select study participants. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. Data was analysed with the SPSS. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Bowen University Teaching Hospital Research Ethics Committee. A total of 370 people participated in the study. Majority; (78.9%) of the respondents were aware of the NHIS; however only 13.5 % paid for health care services through the NHIS. Logistic regression analysis shows that respondents with post-secondary education (OR = 9.032; CI = 2.562 - 31.847; p = 0.001) and in federal civil service (OR = 2.679; CI = 1.036 - 6.929; p = 0.042) were over nine and three times more likely to be aware of the scheme than others. Coverage of the scheme among the respondents was unimpressive. A lot still need to be done to fast-track the expansion of the scheme among this sector of the population

Relationship between Age; Radiographic Normal Heart Size and Cardio-Thoracic Ratio in a Nigerian Population

Background: Cardio-vascular disease (CVD) is now on the increase. The precise diagnosis of CVD is of immense clinical importance to the cardiac surgeons; pathologist and also for cardiologists. However; information on normal values for various cardio-vascular structures in Nigeria; a country with the highest population of blacks in the world is sparse. In this regard the age-related radiographic sizes of a Nigerian cohort of patients with non-cardiogenic complaints or consultations were therefore assessed.Objectives: To evaluate the limits of normal cardiac size in our environment ; determine if there was a relationship between the age and size of the heart and to evaluate the relationship between sex and cardiac size and cardio-thoracic ratio.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: The Radiology department of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Ilorin; North Central Nigeria between January to June 2012.Subjects: One Hundred patients were consecutively recruited and their chest radiographs examined after fulfilling the inclusion criteria.Results: Males accounted for 55% of the study population. The age range was 1 month to 73 years; (Mean = 29.3; SD =2.41668). The mean cardiac size was 11.7cm. The average cardiac size for adult males and females; were 11.6cm and 11.5cm respectively while that of thoracic size was 29.0cm and 26.8cm respectively. Correlation between age and cardiac size was 0.66; age and thoracic size was 0.64 and between cardiac size and thoracic size was 0.89. The paired sample t-test for age and cardiac size was less than 0.05 (p value 0.05).Conclusion: knowing the average values of cardiac size for adult males and females (11.6cm and 11.5cm) and thoracic size (29.0cm and 26.8cm) respectively from this study presents a base line for early detection of variation from normal cardiac measurements in this environment

Risk factors, threats and prevention of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in African countries

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a viral disease that affects the digestive; nervous and respiratory systems of all domestic and wild birds with high morbidity and mortality. It is highly contagious disease which can be fatal in humans. The avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are classified as types A; B and C with 15 subtypes of the type A. To date; all disease causing HPAI Viruses belong to H5 or H7 subtypes; and affect pigs and humans with the pigs serving as a mixing vehicle for re-assortment of the virus. The domestic ducks get infected without showing clinical signs and serve as a source of infection for domestic poultry. Outbreaks of HPAl in Europe; Asia and Turkey are reported to be associated; with the presence of wet lands and lakes where migratory birds rest. In some African countries like Nigeria; such wet lands exist with free flying wild birds and domestic ducks visiting and resting. The possible source of introduction into a country could be through importation or smuggling of infected poultry products across the borders and through migratory birds that fly through identified pathways. The status of HPAl in many African countries including Nigeria is still under investigation so that appropriate strategies / measures to prevent introduction of the disease into the country can be implemented and / or strengthened through restriction of importation of poultry and poultry products from high risk countries; effective disease surveillance; functional National Veterinary services; quarantine and community based participatory epidemiological system for HPAI surveillance and control. This article reviewed the global epidemiology and risk factors of HPAI infection in Nigeria and other African countries with emphasis on specific preventive measures that can reduce introduction of the virus into the country and the epidemiological surveillance for case detection / identification; screening and management. This review provides useful information and updates for health workers in tropical countries on the trends of AIVs and HPAI; diagnostic criteria using case definitions for both community and health facility levels and management protocols for confirmed cases as recommended by the World health Organization