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Papers by Folorunsho Nuhu

Research paper thumbnail of Research Open Access The burden experienced by family caregivers of patients with epilepsy attending the

Background: Caring for patients with chronic medical and psychiatric disorders is associated with... more Background: Caring for patients with chronic medical and psychiatric disorders is associated with significant burden. However little is known about the burden experience by caregivers of patients with epilepsy in Nigeria. The objective of this study, therefore, was to assess the level and correlates of burden among caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out among 231 eligible caregivers of patients with epilepsy attending the psychiatric clinic of government psychiatric hospital in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. Sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of patients and socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers were recorded, and the Zarit Burden Interview administered to caregivers to assess their experience of burden. Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 43.6 ±9.5 years, 52.4 % lived outside Kaduna and the mean seizure-free period for the patients was 26.4 ±36.5 weeks. One hundred and twenty (51.9%) caregivers had high burden. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Anxiety and Depression Symptomatology in Migraine: Retrospective Review of 257 Cases from Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 2012

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders among patien... more Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders among patients with migraine attending the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna Methods : This is a retrospective study. Case files of all patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' from January, 2000 to December, 2009 were reviewed applying the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria to identify those who met the criteria for migraine. These were further reviewed to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results : During the 10 year period, 257 of 604 patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' met the IHS criteria for migraine. Analysis of these 257 patients revealed the following; mean age of subjects 31.3 (SD 11.1) years, mean duration of illness 53.3 (SD 50.6) months, mean duration of a migraine attack 26.5 (SD15.4) hours and mean frequency of migraine attack ...

Research paper thumbnail of Content Analysis of Newsprints Reported Cases of Suicide in Nigeria Between 2010- 2015 Using Principle of Psychological Autospy

Newspaper reports on suicide seems to be on the increase. Despite this, needed attention has not ... more Newspaper reports on suicide seems to be on the increase. Despite this, needed attention has not been given to the menace. Are these reported cases that of suicide or secondary to other causes? The Aims of this paper is to further sensitize Governmental, Non governmental, clinicians and other stakeholders on the increasing report of suicide by Media organizations and to also determine whether these cases are secondary to suicide using psychological principle. Sixty three (80%) of the seventy eight cases analyzed meet the criteria of suicide. It is therefore suggested that preventive measures as well as prompt diagnosis and treatment should be put in place to stem the tide in our society.

Research paper thumbnail of Spectrum and predictors of suicidal risk among incarcerated youth in a correctional facility in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Screening for neurodevelopmental disorders among children with untreated epilepsy in Northern Nigeria

Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Descriptive Characterization of Psycho-Trauma, Psychological Distress, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Children and Adolescent Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Nigeria

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2016

Background: A postelection violent conflict in Kaduna resulted in 800 deaths and 65,000 displaced... more Background: A postelection violent conflict in Kaduna resulted in 800 deaths and 65,000 displaced people leading to setting up of camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). We set out to determine the prevalence and pattern of psycho-traumatic stressful life events, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among child/adolescents IDPs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 73 child/adolescent IDPs were selected by total sampling. Stressful life event checklist measured conflict-related trauma and reaction of adolescents to traumatic stress (RATS) measured post-trauma reaction of children/adolescents. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist 37 for Adolescents measured psychological distress associated with trauma. Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children was used for diagnosis of PTSD. results: Of 73 respondents, 3 (4.1%) had probable PTSD, 2 (2.7%) had definitive PTSD, and mean score of the child/adolescent IDPs on HSCL-37A and RATS was 44.7 (SD = 6.3) and 31.9 (SD = 5.7), respectively. Most frequently occurring psychological distress among female participants was suddenly scared for no reason 7 (19.5%) and becoming angry easily and feeling fearful 5 (13.9%). The average score for female participants were higher than that for males on depressive and anxiety subscale of HSCL-37A. conclusion: We concluded that children/adolescent IDPs were exposed to psychotrauma following postelection violent conflict and developed psychological distress. However, the low prevalence of psychological distress and PTSD suggested that living with parents and psychosocial intervention provided could have led to much lower morbidity.

Research paper thumbnail of Strong family history and early onset of schizophrenia: about 2 families in Northern Nigeria

Pan African Medical Journal, 2016

Schizophrenia is a highly heritable psychotic disorder and high genetic loading is associated wit... more Schizophrenia is a highly heritable psychotic disorder and high genetic loading is associated with early onset of the disease. The outcome of schizophrenia has also been linked with the age of onset as well as the presence of family history of the disease. Therefore families with patients with early onset Schizophrenia are subpopulations for genetic studies. We present 2 families with heavy genetic loading who have adolescents with schizophrenia.

Research paper thumbnail of Volume 4 Issue 2 Apr-Jun 2013

Challenges in care of the child with special health care needs in a resource limited environment

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge of Childhood Autism and Challenges of Management among Medical Doctors in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria

Autism Research and Treatment, 2015

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious implications in childhood. There is a signif... more Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious implications in childhood. There is a significant gap in the identification and provision of health and social services for autism in Africa. The knowledge of autism among health care providers and identifying challenges associated with its management could facilitate bridging the gap and ensuring better outcomes. A self-administered tool, the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaire, was used in assessing knowledge of autism among 175 medical doctors (participants) attending an annual scientific meeting in northwest Nigeria. Other parameters assessed were sociodemographic and professional characteristics of the participants and challenges encountered in the management of autism. Out of 175 questionnaires distributed, 167 (95.4%) were returned. Good knowledge (KCAHW score ≥15) was significantly associated with being a paediatrician or psychiatrist and practicing in a tertiary health facility (P&l...

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Family Function by Adolescents with Epilepsy in a Rural Nigerian Community

Epilepsy Research and Treatment, 2014

The family plays a significant role in epilepsy management in sub-Saharan Africa and how this rol... more The family plays a significant role in epilepsy management in sub-Saharan Africa and how this role is perceived by persons with epilepsy could influence epilepsy outcomes. The objective of the study was to assess perception of family function by adolescents with epilepsy (AWE). The sociodemographic and epilepsy characteristics of AWE in a rural Nigerian community were assessed and the Family APGAR tool was used in assessing their perception of satisfaction with family functioning. Adolescents (n=1708) constituted 26% of the community’s population and 18 (10.5/1000) had epilepsy. The AWE age range was 11–19 years (mean 16.7±2.6 years) with a male preponderance (15, 83.3%). The family was the only source of care. Family dysfunction (Family APGAR Score <7) was indicated by 15 (83.3%) of the AWE. The strongest perception of family function was in adaptability while the weakest was with growth. The indication of family dysfunction was significant (P<0.05) in the older (age 14–19 ye...

Research paper thumbnail of Perspectives of Mothers on Childhood Epilepsy in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine, 2015

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common childhood neurological diseases and is associate... more Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common childhood neurological diseases and is associated with poor outcomes in developing countries where it is most prevalent. The epilepsy perspectives of adults in these countries have been found to influence epilepsy outcomes significantly. Assessing the epilepsy perspectives of mothers, who play a pivotal role in child care, is important to providing comprehensive epilepsy care and ensuring better outcomes. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of mothers, as primary child care providers toward children with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to mothers attending a primary healthcare center, and it assessed their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and attitude with regards to childhood epilepsy. Knowledge was assessed based on responses to queries about etiology, manifestation, treatment and outcome of epilepsy in childhood. Attitude was assessed based on mothers′ tendency toward stigmatization or discrimination against children with epilepsy. Results: A total of 523 mothers, whose age range was 17-52 years (mean 27.5 ΁ 10.3 years), was interviewed. Most were <30 years old (300, 57.4%), petty traders (217, 41.5%) and had a primary education (221, 42.3%). Spiritual cause (247, 47.2%) and "falling to the ground" (361, 69%) were the commonest epilepsy etiology and manifestation indicated respectively. Orthodox medical therapy (239, 45.7%), prayers (138, 30.2%) and traditional medication (118, 22.6%) were the main treatment modalities indicated. Most of the mothers (277, 53%) were uncertain about the outcome in childhood epilepsy. Stigmatization and discrimination against children with epilepsy were indicated by 120 (22.9%) and 481 (92%) of the mothers respectively. Lack of any formal education, indication of a spiritual etiology and perception of a poor outcome for epilepsy were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the attitudinal disposition of the mothers. Conclusion: Majority of the mothers demonstrated appreciable deficiencies in their knowledge of epilepsy and had a negative attitudinal disposition toward epilepsy in childhood.

Research paper thumbnail of Poor academic performance among adolescents with epilepsy in Kaduna, northern Nigeria: A case-control study

Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence, 2012

Epilepsy is the most common severe non-infectious neurological disorder affecting both children a... more Epilepsy is the most common severe non-infectious neurological disorder affecting both children and adults, 1 and the majority of sufferers live in developing countries. 2 In children and adolescents epilepsy is associated with impairment in academic performance, 3-7 which may limit future employment opportunities. 8 In Nigeria, studies have linked epilepsy with missing school, dropping out of school and poor academic performance. 4-,11 Factors that predispose a child or adolescent with epilepsy to poor school performance include the age of the child, age of onset of seizures, seizure frequency, 12 type of seizure, IQ of the child, 4 poor memory, inattention, 13 low self-esteem, and psychosocial and sociodemographic factors. 9 The aims and objectives of this study were therefore to assess the academic performance of adolescents with epilepsy in Kaduna and identify factors that may be associated with poor performance in this population in a Northern Nigerian setting. Methods The study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, NorthWest , Nigeria. The hospital is a tertiary health institution that receives referrals (mostly psychiatric, but also neurological) from virtually all the states in Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. In this cross-sectional study, the socio-demographic/clinical characteristics of 77 consecutive adolescents (aged 12-17 years) with epilepsy attending the Child and Adolescent Clinic of the hospital between March 2008 and September 2010 and the socio-demographic characteristics of 76 controls (matched for age and sex) were recorded. Information concerning school attendance (regularity of attendance at school) and academic performance (academic records for the three most recent consecutive terms) of the patients and the controls were obtained from the adolescents and their parents or caregivers. For the purposes of the study, poor academic performance was defined as persistent below-average performance as reported by the informants, or a decline from previous performance since the onset of the illness

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood seizure disorders in a tropical child psychiatric unit: Challenges of care in a resource constrained environment

Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges in care of the child with special health care needs in a resource limited environment

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 2013

ABSTRACTTo identify challenges encountered in the care of children with special health care needs... more ABSTRACTTo identify challenges encountered in the care of children with special health care needs in a resource limited environment a 10 year‑old child with a diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis was studied. Challenges identified were in: making a definitive diagnosis, provision of adequate care, cost of care, meeting parental expectations and accessing community support for the child and family. Available specialist health care and related services, including community rehabilitation, were provided for the child and family. The study highlights the need for improved community awareness, development in the provision of specialist health care services and institution of governmental policies that identify, support and protect children with special health care needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep Quality among Primary Care Attendees in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria: A Case-Control Study

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2013

Objective: To assess sleep quality and its determinants among primary care patients in a Northern... more Objective: To assess sleep quality and its determinants among primary care patients in a Northern Nigerian setting. Methods: We administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to 217 consecutive patients attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, and PSQI to 223 age-matched controls to evaluate their sleep quality and levels of anxiety and depression. A data collection sheet was used to record the sociodemographic characteristics of patients and controls, and the clinical characteristics of the patients. Results: The mean ages of all the subjects, patients, and controls were 33.7 (SD 10.6), 33.5 (SD 10.6), and 34.0 (SD 10.5) years respectively; 54.4% of the patients were females, 54.8% were Muslims, 56.2% admitted they had pain, 60.8% and 46.5% had anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively, while 68.7% had poor sleep quality. The mean global score of sleep quality for patients was 9.2 (SD 3.6) while that of the control was 3.8 (SD 1.4).

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of short screening tools for common mental disorders in Nigerian general practices

General Hospital Psychiatry, 2014

The objective was to examine the psychometric properties of two brief screening questionnaires fo... more The objective was to examine the psychometric properties of two brief screening questionnaires for common mental disorders in general practices in areas speaking the three main Nigerian languages. Method: Consecutives attendees of selected general practices in Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna were screened with the General Health Questionnaire 12-item version (GHQ12) and K6. We selected all cases and 50% of noncases for second-stage interview with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for both questionnaires, and optimal cutoffs were determined. Exploratory factor analysis was done for both questionnaires. Results: The K6 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.62 for depression and 0.58 for anxiety disorder. The GHQ12 had an AUC of 0.74 for depression, while that for generalized anxiety disorder was 0.6. The GHQ12 was able to correctly classify 75% of the subjects with or without depression, while the K6 was able to correctly classify 56% of the subjects with or without depression. The optimal cutoff for both questionnaires was 4, selecting the point of best balance of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the GHQ12 will be a useful tool in screening for common mental disorders in general practice in Nigeria.

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood epilepsy in a tropical child psychiatric unit: Challenges of providing care in a resource-constrained environment

Annals of African Medicine, 2013

Epilepsy is an important cause of childhood morbidity and its care is fraught with challenges. It... more Epilepsy is an important cause of childhood morbidity and its care is fraught with challenges. Itinerant search for remedy and manifestation as or with psychiatric disorders could result in presentation in a psychiatric unit. Identification of these challenges is essential to providing optimal care. The objective was to identify caregiver challenges in the provision of care to children with epilepsy presenting in a psychiatric unit. Administration of a structured questionnaire to caregivers of children with epilepsy presenting, between September and December 2011, in the newly constituted Child and Adolescent Mental Health(CAMH) Unit of the Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna Nigeria. A total of 84 caregivers were interviewed. The age range of the caregivers was 23 to 62 years (mean 38 ± 9.2 years) and a female preponderance (50, 59.5%). Most of the caregivers were in the upper social classes (I-III, 79.8%). A high number of challenges were indicated by majority 65, 77.4%) of the caregivers. The recurrence of seizures (84,100%) was the commonest challenge while the experience of discrimination (17, 20.2%) was the least. All caregivers had sought remedy from multiple health care options. Challenges were significantly (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) associated with the female caregiver, age &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 40 years, generalized type of epilepsy and residing outside Kaduna. The study identified multi dimensional caregiver challenges and highlighted the need for provision of comprehensive health and social services to children with epilepsy and their families.

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional distress among people with epilepsy in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2013

Background: Epilepsy is associated with significant psychiatric morbidities. However, little is k... more Background: Epilepsy is associated with significant psychiatric morbidities. However, little is known about epilepsy and emotional distress in northern Nigeria. Aim: To assess the prevalence and determinants of emotional distress among people with epilepsy (PWE) in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January, 2011 and June, 2011. Materials and Methods: We administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as well as the Oslo 3-Items Social Support Scale to 209 consecutive PWE of at least 1 year duration attending the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna in order to measure their levels of anxiety and depression, and social support. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects were also recorded. Results: The 209 subjects consisted of 123 (58.7%) males and 86 (41.3%) females with mean age of 28.7 (SD, 12.1) years. Majority have strong social support (56.3%) and less than 6 months seizure-free periods (82.3%). The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 20.2% and 15.4% respectively. Older age, being a female, poor social support and short seizure-free periods were significantly associated with emotional distress (P value < 0.05) while female sex (OR = 2.201, P value = 0.024, 95% CI = 1.108 - 4.373) and poor support (OR = 0.361, P value = 0.024, 95% CI = 0.149 - 0.875) predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively. Conclusion: Emotional distress is quite common among PWE and should be taken into consideration in the management of patients with this disorder.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Predictors of Depression in Cancer Patients in the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria

Hong Kong Journal of Psychiatry

Research paper thumbnail of The profile of mentally ill offenders in Katsina, Northern-Nigeria

African Journal of Psychiatry

Research paper thumbnail of Research Open Access The burden experienced by family caregivers of patients with epilepsy attending the

Background: Caring for patients with chronic medical and psychiatric disorders is associated with... more Background: Caring for patients with chronic medical and psychiatric disorders is associated with significant burden. However little is known about the burden experience by caregivers of patients with epilepsy in Nigeria. The objective of this study, therefore, was to assess the level and correlates of burden among caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out among 231 eligible caregivers of patients with epilepsy attending the psychiatric clinic of government psychiatric hospital in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. Sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of patients and socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers were recorded, and the Zarit Burden Interview administered to caregivers to assess their experience of burden. Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 43.6 ±9.5 years, 52.4 % lived outside Kaduna and the mean seizure-free period for the patients was 26.4 ±36.5 weeks. One hundred and twenty (51.9%) caregivers had high burden. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Anxiety and Depression Symptomatology in Migraine: Retrospective Review of 257 Cases from Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 2012

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders among patien... more Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders among patients with migraine attending the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna Methods : This is a retrospective study. Case files of all patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' from January, 2000 to December, 2009 were reviewed applying the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria to identify those who met the criteria for migraine. These were further reviewed to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results : During the 10 year period, 257 of 604 patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' met the IHS criteria for migraine. Analysis of these 257 patients revealed the following; mean age of subjects 31.3 (SD 11.1) years, mean duration of illness 53.3 (SD 50.6) months, mean duration of a migraine attack 26.5 (SD15.4) hours and mean frequency of migraine attack ...

Research paper thumbnail of Content Analysis of Newsprints Reported Cases of Suicide in Nigeria Between 2010- 2015 Using Principle of Psychological Autospy

Newspaper reports on suicide seems to be on the increase. Despite this, needed attention has not ... more Newspaper reports on suicide seems to be on the increase. Despite this, needed attention has not been given to the menace. Are these reported cases that of suicide or secondary to other causes? The Aims of this paper is to further sensitize Governmental, Non governmental, clinicians and other stakeholders on the increasing report of suicide by Media organizations and to also determine whether these cases are secondary to suicide using psychological principle. Sixty three (80%) of the seventy eight cases analyzed meet the criteria of suicide. It is therefore suggested that preventive measures as well as prompt diagnosis and treatment should be put in place to stem the tide in our society.

Research paper thumbnail of Spectrum and predictors of suicidal risk among incarcerated youth in a correctional facility in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Screening for neurodevelopmental disorders among children with untreated epilepsy in Northern Nigeria

Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Descriptive Characterization of Psycho-Trauma, Psychological Distress, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Children and Adolescent Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Nigeria

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2016

Background: A postelection violent conflict in Kaduna resulted in 800 deaths and 65,000 displaced... more Background: A postelection violent conflict in Kaduna resulted in 800 deaths and 65,000 displaced people leading to setting up of camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). We set out to determine the prevalence and pattern of psycho-traumatic stressful life events, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among child/adolescents IDPs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 73 child/adolescent IDPs were selected by total sampling. Stressful life event checklist measured conflict-related trauma and reaction of adolescents to traumatic stress (RATS) measured post-trauma reaction of children/adolescents. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist 37 for Adolescents measured psychological distress associated with trauma. Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children was used for diagnosis of PTSD. results: Of 73 respondents, 3 (4.1%) had probable PTSD, 2 (2.7%) had definitive PTSD, and mean score of the child/adolescent IDPs on HSCL-37A and RATS was 44.7 (SD = 6.3) and 31.9 (SD = 5.7), respectively. Most frequently occurring psychological distress among female participants was suddenly scared for no reason 7 (19.5%) and becoming angry easily and feeling fearful 5 (13.9%). The average score for female participants were higher than that for males on depressive and anxiety subscale of HSCL-37A. conclusion: We concluded that children/adolescent IDPs were exposed to psychotrauma following postelection violent conflict and developed psychological distress. However, the low prevalence of psychological distress and PTSD suggested that living with parents and psychosocial intervention provided could have led to much lower morbidity.

Research paper thumbnail of Strong family history and early onset of schizophrenia: about 2 families in Northern Nigeria

Pan African Medical Journal, 2016

Schizophrenia is a highly heritable psychotic disorder and high genetic loading is associated wit... more Schizophrenia is a highly heritable psychotic disorder and high genetic loading is associated with early onset of the disease. The outcome of schizophrenia has also been linked with the age of onset as well as the presence of family history of the disease. Therefore families with patients with early onset Schizophrenia are subpopulations for genetic studies. We present 2 families with heavy genetic loading who have adolescents with schizophrenia.

Research paper thumbnail of Volume 4 Issue 2 Apr-Jun 2013

Challenges in care of the child with special health care needs in a resource limited environment

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge of Childhood Autism and Challenges of Management among Medical Doctors in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria

Autism Research and Treatment, 2015

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious implications in childhood. There is a signif... more Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious implications in childhood. There is a significant gap in the identification and provision of health and social services for autism in Africa. The knowledge of autism among health care providers and identifying challenges associated with its management could facilitate bridging the gap and ensuring better outcomes. A self-administered tool, the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaire, was used in assessing knowledge of autism among 175 medical doctors (participants) attending an annual scientific meeting in northwest Nigeria. Other parameters assessed were sociodemographic and professional characteristics of the participants and challenges encountered in the management of autism. Out of 175 questionnaires distributed, 167 (95.4%) were returned. Good knowledge (KCAHW score ≥15) was significantly associated with being a paediatrician or psychiatrist and practicing in a tertiary health facility (P&l...

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Family Function by Adolescents with Epilepsy in a Rural Nigerian Community

Epilepsy Research and Treatment, 2014

The family plays a significant role in epilepsy management in sub-Saharan Africa and how this rol... more The family plays a significant role in epilepsy management in sub-Saharan Africa and how this role is perceived by persons with epilepsy could influence epilepsy outcomes. The objective of the study was to assess perception of family function by adolescents with epilepsy (AWE). The sociodemographic and epilepsy characteristics of AWE in a rural Nigerian community were assessed and the Family APGAR tool was used in assessing their perception of satisfaction with family functioning. Adolescents (n=1708) constituted 26% of the community’s population and 18 (10.5/1000) had epilepsy. The AWE age range was 11–19 years (mean 16.7±2.6 years) with a male preponderance (15, 83.3%). The family was the only source of care. Family dysfunction (Family APGAR Score <7) was indicated by 15 (83.3%) of the AWE. The strongest perception of family function was in adaptability while the weakest was with growth. The indication of family dysfunction was significant (P<0.05) in the older (age 14–19 ye...

Research paper thumbnail of Perspectives of Mothers on Childhood Epilepsy in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine, 2015

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common childhood neurological diseases and is associate... more Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common childhood neurological diseases and is associated with poor outcomes in developing countries where it is most prevalent. The epilepsy perspectives of adults in these countries have been found to influence epilepsy outcomes significantly. Assessing the epilepsy perspectives of mothers, who play a pivotal role in child care, is important to providing comprehensive epilepsy care and ensuring better outcomes. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of mothers, as primary child care providers toward children with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to mothers attending a primary healthcare center, and it assessed their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and attitude with regards to childhood epilepsy. Knowledge was assessed based on responses to queries about etiology, manifestation, treatment and outcome of epilepsy in childhood. Attitude was assessed based on mothers′ tendency toward stigmatization or discrimination against children with epilepsy. Results: A total of 523 mothers, whose age range was 17-52 years (mean 27.5 ΁ 10.3 years), was interviewed. Most were <30 years old (300, 57.4%), petty traders (217, 41.5%) and had a primary education (221, 42.3%). Spiritual cause (247, 47.2%) and "falling to the ground" (361, 69%) were the commonest epilepsy etiology and manifestation indicated respectively. Orthodox medical therapy (239, 45.7%), prayers (138, 30.2%) and traditional medication (118, 22.6%) were the main treatment modalities indicated. Most of the mothers (277, 53%) were uncertain about the outcome in childhood epilepsy. Stigmatization and discrimination against children with epilepsy were indicated by 120 (22.9%) and 481 (92%) of the mothers respectively. Lack of any formal education, indication of a spiritual etiology and perception of a poor outcome for epilepsy were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the attitudinal disposition of the mothers. Conclusion: Majority of the mothers demonstrated appreciable deficiencies in their knowledge of epilepsy and had a negative attitudinal disposition toward epilepsy in childhood.

Research paper thumbnail of Poor academic performance among adolescents with epilepsy in Kaduna, northern Nigeria: A case-control study

Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence, 2012

Epilepsy is the most common severe non-infectious neurological disorder affecting both children a... more Epilepsy is the most common severe non-infectious neurological disorder affecting both children and adults, 1 and the majority of sufferers live in developing countries. 2 In children and adolescents epilepsy is associated with impairment in academic performance, 3-7 which may limit future employment opportunities. 8 In Nigeria, studies have linked epilepsy with missing school, dropping out of school and poor academic performance. 4-,11 Factors that predispose a child or adolescent with epilepsy to poor school performance include the age of the child, age of onset of seizures, seizure frequency, 12 type of seizure, IQ of the child, 4 poor memory, inattention, 13 low self-esteem, and psychosocial and sociodemographic factors. 9 The aims and objectives of this study were therefore to assess the academic performance of adolescents with epilepsy in Kaduna and identify factors that may be associated with poor performance in this population in a Northern Nigerian setting. Methods The study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, NorthWest , Nigeria. The hospital is a tertiary health institution that receives referrals (mostly psychiatric, but also neurological) from virtually all the states in Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. In this cross-sectional study, the socio-demographic/clinical characteristics of 77 consecutive adolescents (aged 12-17 years) with epilepsy attending the Child and Adolescent Clinic of the hospital between March 2008 and September 2010 and the socio-demographic characteristics of 76 controls (matched for age and sex) were recorded. Information concerning school attendance (regularity of attendance at school) and academic performance (academic records for the three most recent consecutive terms) of the patients and the controls were obtained from the adolescents and their parents or caregivers. For the purposes of the study, poor academic performance was defined as persistent below-average performance as reported by the informants, or a decline from previous performance since the onset of the illness

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood seizure disorders in a tropical child psychiatric unit: Challenges of care in a resource constrained environment

Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges in care of the child with special health care needs in a resource limited environment

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 2013

ABSTRACTTo identify challenges encountered in the care of children with special health care needs... more ABSTRACTTo identify challenges encountered in the care of children with special health care needs in a resource limited environment a 10 year‑old child with a diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis was studied. Challenges identified were in: making a definitive diagnosis, provision of adequate care, cost of care, meeting parental expectations and accessing community support for the child and family. Available specialist health care and related services, including community rehabilitation, were provided for the child and family. The study highlights the need for improved community awareness, development in the provision of specialist health care services and institution of governmental policies that identify, support and protect children with special health care needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep Quality among Primary Care Attendees in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria: A Case-Control Study

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2013

Objective: To assess sleep quality and its determinants among primary care patients in a Northern... more Objective: To assess sleep quality and its determinants among primary care patients in a Northern Nigerian setting. Methods: We administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to 217 consecutive patients attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, and PSQI to 223 age-matched controls to evaluate their sleep quality and levels of anxiety and depression. A data collection sheet was used to record the sociodemographic characteristics of patients and controls, and the clinical characteristics of the patients. Results: The mean ages of all the subjects, patients, and controls were 33.7 (SD 10.6), 33.5 (SD 10.6), and 34.0 (SD 10.5) years respectively; 54.4% of the patients were females, 54.8% were Muslims, 56.2% admitted they had pain, 60.8% and 46.5% had anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively, while 68.7% had poor sleep quality. The mean global score of sleep quality for patients was 9.2 (SD 3.6) while that of the control was 3.8 (SD 1.4).

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of short screening tools for common mental disorders in Nigerian general practices

General Hospital Psychiatry, 2014

The objective was to examine the psychometric properties of two brief screening questionnaires fo... more The objective was to examine the psychometric properties of two brief screening questionnaires for common mental disorders in general practices in areas speaking the three main Nigerian languages. Method: Consecutives attendees of selected general practices in Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna were screened with the General Health Questionnaire 12-item version (GHQ12) and K6. We selected all cases and 50% of noncases for second-stage interview with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for both questionnaires, and optimal cutoffs were determined. Exploratory factor analysis was done for both questionnaires. Results: The K6 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.62 for depression and 0.58 for anxiety disorder. The GHQ12 had an AUC of 0.74 for depression, while that for generalized anxiety disorder was 0.6. The GHQ12 was able to correctly classify 75% of the subjects with or without depression, while the K6 was able to correctly classify 56% of the subjects with or without depression. The optimal cutoff for both questionnaires was 4, selecting the point of best balance of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the GHQ12 will be a useful tool in screening for common mental disorders in general practice in Nigeria.

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood epilepsy in a tropical child psychiatric unit: Challenges of providing care in a resource-constrained environment

Annals of African Medicine, 2013

Epilepsy is an important cause of childhood morbidity and its care is fraught with challenges. It... more Epilepsy is an important cause of childhood morbidity and its care is fraught with challenges. Itinerant search for remedy and manifestation as or with psychiatric disorders could result in presentation in a psychiatric unit. Identification of these challenges is essential to providing optimal care. The objective was to identify caregiver challenges in the provision of care to children with epilepsy presenting in a psychiatric unit. Administration of a structured questionnaire to caregivers of children with epilepsy presenting, between September and December 2011, in the newly constituted Child and Adolescent Mental Health(CAMH) Unit of the Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna Nigeria. A total of 84 caregivers were interviewed. The age range of the caregivers was 23 to 62 years (mean 38 ± 9.2 years) and a female preponderance (50, 59.5%). Most of the caregivers were in the upper social classes (I-III, 79.8%). A high number of challenges were indicated by majority 65, 77.4%) of the caregivers. The recurrence of seizures (84,100%) was the commonest challenge while the experience of discrimination (17, 20.2%) was the least. All caregivers had sought remedy from multiple health care options. Challenges were significantly (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) associated with the female caregiver, age &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 40 years, generalized type of epilepsy and residing outside Kaduna. The study identified multi dimensional caregiver challenges and highlighted the need for provision of comprehensive health and social services to children with epilepsy and their families.

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional distress among people with epilepsy in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2013

Background: Epilepsy is associated with significant psychiatric morbidities. However, little is k... more Background: Epilepsy is associated with significant psychiatric morbidities. However, little is known about epilepsy and emotional distress in northern Nigeria. Aim: To assess the prevalence and determinants of emotional distress among people with epilepsy (PWE) in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January, 2011 and June, 2011. Materials and Methods: We administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as well as the Oslo 3-Items Social Support Scale to 209 consecutive PWE of at least 1 year duration attending the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna in order to measure their levels of anxiety and depression, and social support. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects were also recorded. Results: The 209 subjects consisted of 123 (58.7%) males and 86 (41.3%) females with mean age of 28.7 (SD, 12.1) years. Majority have strong social support (56.3%) and less than 6 months seizure-free periods (82.3%). The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 20.2% and 15.4% respectively. Older age, being a female, poor social support and short seizure-free periods were significantly associated with emotional distress (P value < 0.05) while female sex (OR = 2.201, P value = 0.024, 95% CI = 1.108 - 4.373) and poor support (OR = 0.361, P value = 0.024, 95% CI = 0.149 - 0.875) predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively. Conclusion: Emotional distress is quite common among PWE and should be taken into consideration in the management of patients with this disorder.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Predictors of Depression in Cancer Patients in the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria

Hong Kong Journal of Psychiatry

Research paper thumbnail of The profile of mentally ill offenders in Katsina, Northern-Nigeria

African Journal of Psychiatry