Survey datasets on patterns of utilization of mental healthcare services among people living with mental illness

Treatment pathways of Alzheimer in Nigeria

Alzheimer poses lots of challenges in Low and Middle Income Countries, especially in Nigeria. Globally, the causes of Alzheimer are poorly understood. Cultural factors affect the preference of mental health treatment for treating people living with Alzheimer's disease (PLWA However, Alzheimer's and its gender differentials have been given little consideration in particular. Twenty-four in-depth study was conducted with caregivers and family members/relatives of people living with Alzheimer's (PLWA) residing in the study area. 52.2 percent of respondents were female out of the total while 45.8 percent were male. For male respondents, 40.4%; 49.4 %; 49.2%; 35 % and 28.3% indicated spiritual preference of mental health counseling; traditional; medical practitioner; both traditional and spiritual and psychiatrist respectively. On the other hand, 59.6%; 50.6%; 50.8%; 65% and 70.7% of female respondents indicated spiritual; traditional; medical practitioner; both traditional and spiritual and psychiatrist respectively. This research found that gender disparities primarily affected the mental health intervention care pathways. The availability of mental health resources to support adult mental health were key factors which could influence mental health status.

Maternal Mortality and Maternal Health Care in Nigeria: Implications for Socio-Economic Development

BACKGROUND

Even though maternal mortality, which is a pregnancy-related death is preventable, it has continued to increase in many nations of the world, especially in the African countries of the sub-Saharan regions caused by factors which include a low level of socioeconomic development.

AIM

This paper focuses on cogent issues affecting maternal mortality by unpacking its precipitating factors and examining the maternal health care system in Nigeria.

METHODS

Contemporary works of literature were reviewed, and the functionalist perspective served as a theoretical guide to examine the interrelated functions of several sectors of the society to the outcome of maternal mortality.

RESULTS

It was noted that apart from the medical related causes (direct and indirect) of maternal mortality, certain socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the outcome of pregnancy. Also, a poor health care system, which is a consequent of weak social structure, is a contributing factor.

CONCLUSION

As a result, maternal mortality has debilitating effects on the socioeconomic development of any nation. It is therefore pertinent for the government to improve maternal health and eradicate poverty to ensure sustainable development.

Survival Analysis of Cancer Patients in North Eastern Nigeria from 2004 - 2017 - A Kaplan - Meier Method

BACKGROUND:

Cancer is a deadly malignant disease and is prevalent in Sub Saharan Africa. The North East part of Nigeria in particular and the country, in general, are struggling to cope with the increasing burden of cancer and other communicable and non-communicable diseases. The situation is worsened by the ongoing insurgency and terrorist activities in the area.

AIM:

The aim of this paper is to present the research findings from a cohort study aimed at the analysis of the estimation of the survivorship time of the real data of cancer patients in the North-eastern part of Nigeria and to establish if the insurgency in the region has contributed negatively to the life expectancy of its inhabitants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The record of 1,090 patients from medical records departments of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in northeast Nigeria was obtained. The record showed patients that were diagnosed and died of one type of cancer or the other from 2004 to 2017. All the cancer cases included in the present study were grouped into sex, age, marital status, occupation, date admitted and date of death/discharge. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyse the data using SPSS version 23 while Microsoft EXCEL and Minitab 16.0 were used for data cleansing and organisation.

RESULTS:

Of the 1,090 patients analysed, 920 (84.40%) experienced the event, i.e. death, while 170 (15.60%) patients were censored. The data were analysed based on the ages and sex of the patients. 50.20% of the patients were of ages 21-50 years. The proportions of patients in this age bracket surviving past 7 days are 75%, while those between ages 80 years and above is 12 days. Others are of survival time of 5 days (ages 0-20 years) and 7 days (51-79 years). Using sex, 75% of the patients’ survival time is 7 days in the case of male and 6 days for females. It is safe to say that the survival time for cancer patients of the university the Maiduguri is 6 days and the result reflects the Northeastern part of Nigeria. This is because the hospital is one of few tertiary healthcare facilities in that area and consequently, cancer cases are often referred there.

CONCLUSION:

Cancer incidence is high, and the probability of survival reduces as the survival time increases. This is a dire situation in need of urgent intervention from the government, groups and individuals to tackle the scourge of cancer, thereby improving on the life expectancy battered by the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in that region.