Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Depression Among Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in The Family Medicine Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) with rising prevalence worldwide. DM increases the risk for depression as the prevalence of depression has been reported to be three times more in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Though depressive symptoms are more common in diabetes, they are not usually recognized and treated. Little is known about the predictors of depression in this group of people, especially among the Nigerian population. This study explored the sociodemographic factors associated with depression in patients with type 2 DM without prior psychiatric history. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among two hundred and sixty-four patients using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Chi-square tests were performed to compare associations between categorical variables. A probability (p) value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Females [176 (66%)] were three times more than males [88 (33.3%)] respectively. The prevalence of depression was 49.2%. Level of education (p= 0.008), occupation (p= 0.014), and social class (p= 0.040) were significantly associated with depression among the respondents. Depression was higher among the older age group, females, and the widowed. Conclusion: Females and older adults were more affected by depression. The predictors of depression were level of education, occupation, and social class. Thus, there is a need to screen those who have been diagnosed with T2DM for depression, especially females and older adult patients.

Frequency of symptoms and health seeking behaviours of menopausal women in an out-patient clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms and health seeking behaviour of women with menopausal symptoms attending the General Outpatient Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study in which data was collected from menopausal women using a three-part, pre-tested questionnaire for a period of three months (July-September 2010). Part 1 consisted of information regarding socio-demographic and general medical information. Part 2 consisted of the modified version of the menopause rating scale (MRS). Part 3 sought for information on their health seeking behaviour. Data was analysed using EPI INFO version 6.04d software package. RESULTS: A total of 385 women were recruited with ages ranging from 35 to 95 years, and a mean of 58.4 ± 10.39 years. The most prevalent menopausal symptoms were loss of libido (92.47%), muscle pain (87.53%), joint pain (85.45%) and tiredness (80.26%). Urinary symptoms had the least prevalence (7.79%). Results on the severity of menopausal symptoms showed that 28.25%, 49.84% and 21.9% were experiencing severe, moderate and mild menopausal symptoms, respectively. Loss of libido (79.21 %) was the most severe symptom followed by urinary symptoms (40%). The patent drug dealers were the most consulted (51.4%) followed by health workers (44.7%). The traditional healers were consulted by a small percentage (3.8%). CONCLUSION: The most common menopausal symptom among the patients in this study was loss of libido and the least common was urinary symptoms. The symptoms are similar to findings in other parts of the world but their prevalence and severity differ. In spite of the available health facilities in these communities, the utilization of the services of patent drug dealers is still very high but the traditional healers were poorly utilized.

Inguinal mesh hernioplasties: a rural private clinic experience in South Eastern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to review hernioplasties done for inguinal hernias in a rural private hospital, bringing out the socio-demographic and clinical pattern and to sensitize surgeons and family physicians in our environment about the possibility of making hernioplasty a standard of care for inguinal hernias. METHOD: The records of seventy seven patients operated in a rural private hospital were reviewed. Socio-demographic data, operative techniques and post-operative outcomes were documented. The results were compared with relevant findings in the literature. RESULTS: Eighty one Lichtenstein procedures were done, of which four were bilateral. Polypropylene mesh was used in all cases. A total of three patients (3.9%) had early post-operative complications. The complications were scrotal haematoma, haematoma complicated by wound sepsis and wound sepsis only. All the complications were successfully managed. There was no case of mesh removal or mortality. CONCLUSION: Early post-operative results suggest that mesh hernioplasty is in rural communities of West Africa, given the availability of mesh, basic medical infrastructure and relevant skilled manpower.