FACULTY OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/273
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item Substance use and psychosocial functioning of adolescents in Benue state, Nigeria: Assessing the role of age(African Journal Online, 2019) Akpa O. M.; Okekunle A. P.Aim: To assess whether Substance Use (SU) is associated with Psychosocial Function (PF) among adolescent. Methods: Using a self-administered validated instrument, we obtained information on demographic, SU (defined as self reported affirmative use of one or more of any form of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, hemps etc) and PF [using the adolescent psychosocial functioning inventory comprising of three subscales; optimism and coping strategies (OCS), behaviour and relationship problems (BRP) and general psychosocial dysfunction designed (GPD)] among 2272 apparently healthy adolescents. PF was categorized as ‘elevated’ if the psychosocial functioning index (PFI) score were >75th percentile, otherwise, ‘not elevated’ and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to compute odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of SU for elevated PF risk. In addition, we applied Johnson Neyman (JN) technique to identifying the JN significance regions at which age moderated the SU-PF relationship at a statistical significance of two-sided P<0.05. Results: Prevalence of SU and elevated PF was 50.7% and 79.8% respectively. Prevalence of elevated PF differed insignificantly by sex, but the proportion of adolescent with elevated PFI on SU (82.6%) was significantly higher (P<0.001) compared to those with elevated PFI but not on SU (76.9%). Multivariable-adjusted odds of decreased OCS risk given SU exposure was; OR (95%CI): 1.3791 (1.1458-1.6698), P=0.0007. Similarly, multivariable-adjusted odds of elevated PF risk in the light of SU exposure was; OR (95%CI): 1.4286 (1.1617-1.7567), P=0.0007. Furthermore, the JN significance regions for moderated regression analyses of odds of decreased OCS risk was between 10.4years [OR (95%CI): 0.5820 (0.1411-1.0228), P=0.0097] and 16.7years [OR (95%CI): 0.3025 (0.0001-0.6050), P=0.0500]. Conclusion: Adolescents on SU are about one and half times at risk of psychosocial dysfunction and age significantly attenuated the SU-decreased OCS risk link particularly in early adolescence.Item Multilevel analysis of psychosocial functioning of Adolescents in families affected by HIV/AIDS in Benue state, Nigeria(Biomedical Communications Group, 2018) Akpa, O. M.Methods The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) study is a multicentre, case-control study done at 15 sites in Nigeria and Ghana. Cases were adults (aged ≥18 years) with stroke confirmed by CT or MRI. Controls were age-matched and gender-matched stroke-free adults (aged ≥18 years) recruited from the communities in catchment areas of cases. Comprehensive assessment for vascular, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors was done using standard instruments. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and population attributable risks (PARs) with 95% CIs.Item The factor structure of the adapted who quality of life bref questionnaire in a sample of adolescents in Nigeria(Faculty of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, 2018) Akpa O. M.; Fowobaje K. R.The World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) is widely validated and popularly used in assessing perceived quality of life (QOL) of adolescents and the general population. Though the WHOQOL-BREF has been used in some studies in Nigeria, its theoretical structure has not been comprehensively investigated. This study examined the factor structure of the Adopted WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and it theoretical structure in a large sample of adolescents in Nigeria. Data on demographic characteristics and QOL were extracted from 1,963 adolescents who participated in a state-wide study on psychosocial functioning and quality of life of adolescents in Benue State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics were used to present the distribution of the data while Cronbach’s alpha and Polychoric ordinal alpha were used to describe the internal consistency (reliability) of the adapted WHOQOL-BREF and alpha value of 0.700 was considered reliable. Structural analysis was performed to extract the underlying factors while confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess some hypothesized structure of the adapted WHO-QOL BREF. Relative Chi-square test value ≤3.0 was regarded a good fit while multiple fit indexes with values ≥0.90 (for acceptable fit) were used for assessing diverse aspects of the models. All analyses were performed at 5% significance level using IBM SPSS statistics version 20, R package and AMOS version 21. Participants were mostly male (54.8%) and 14.7±1.4 years old with 51.0% residing in rural areas. The overall internal consistency of the 4-factor model was 0.862 (for Cronbach’s Alpha) and 0.989 (for Polychoric Alpha) while the 2-factor model had 0.870 (for Cronbach’s Alpha) and 0.990 (for Polychoric Alpha). The Cattelle’s Scree plot, Horn’s parallel analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 2-factor model as the best model for the WHO-QOL BREF. The 23-item 2-factor structure had a relative Chi-square test value with all fit indices within the acceptable range. The adapted WHO QOL BREF can be safely used to assess quality of life among Adolescents in Nigeria and related settings. Using the two factors extracted in the present study may yield better results in settings similar to the present study location.Item Psychometric properties and confirmatory structure of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in a sample of adolescents in Nigeria.(Scientific & Academic Publishing, 2016) Akpa, O. M.; Afolabi, R. F.; Fowobaj, K. R.Though the SDQ has been used in selected studies in Nigeria, its theoretical structure has not been fully and appropriately investigated in the setting. The present study employs Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to investigate the theoretical structure of the self-reported version of the SDQ in a sample of adolescents in Benue state, Nigeria. A total of 1,244 adolescents from different categories of secondary schools in Makurdi and Vandekya Local government areas of Benue state participated in the study. Preliminary data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics while the theoretical structure of the SDQ was assessed using EFA and CFA. Model fits were assessed using Chi-square test and other fit indices at 5% significance level. Participants were 14.19±2.45 (Vandekya) and 14.19±2.45 (Makurdi) years old. Results of the EFA and CFA revealed a 3-factor oblique model as the best model for the sample of adolescents studied ( χ2/ df =2.20, p <0.001) with all fit indices yielding better results. A correlated 3-factor model fits the present data better than the 5-factor theoretical model of the SDQ. The use of the original 5-factor model of the SDQ in the present setting should be interpreted with caution.Item The state of adolescent immunization in Nigeria: A wake up call for all stakeholders(The PAMJ, 2019) Balogun, F. M.The number of children who survive to adolescence is increasing in Nigeria, significantly due to the success of child survival programs, with immunization as a major theme. However, the national immunization schedule in Nigeria is presently restricted to early childhood with no attention paid to immunization in adolescence. Presently, the vaccines that are readily available for adolescents include tetanus toxoid which is normally administered to pregnant women, so necessarily includes adolescent mothers; and a few research programs which offers hepatitis B vaccines. Also, there are few Nigerian adolescents who access immunization as a requirement for travelling outside the country or as a result of parental effort. Knowledge and awareness about adolescent immunization is generally poor. Nigerian adolescents have been shown to be poorly protected from tetanus, rubella and hepatitis B which are vaccine preventable. Neonatal, childhood and adult tetanus, congenital rubella syndrome, cervical cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma are just few of the diseases whose incidence can be reduced with an effective adolescent immunization program. This will also ensure that the gain of childhood immunization is concretized and socio-economic losses as a result of vaccine preventable diseases are eliminated to create a healthy and vibrant workforce. There is an urgent need to build a viable adolescent immunization program in Nigeria as adolescents represent a window of opportunity to prevent diseases which affect both the younger and older age group. This can be extended to other developing countries as well.Item KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PREVALENCE OF EARLY MARRIAGE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN SASA, AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NIGERIA(2013-07) ADAMS, P.The practice of early marriage has persisted in some Nigerian tribes, despite its associated negative health effects. There is however inadequate information on adolescents’ knowledge and attitude towards this practice. This study was therefore conducted to determine knowledge, attitude and the prevalence of early marriage among adolescents in Sasa, a multi-ethnic community in Akinyele Local Government Area Nigeria. Using a three-stage sampling technique, 400 adolescents were recruited into this cross-sectional study. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and prevalence of early marriage. Knowledge of early marriage and associated problems was assessed using a 15-item scale categorized as poor (<8) and good (≥8) knowledge. Attitude to early marriage was assessed with a 17-item 5-point likert scale with minimum and maximum scores of 17 and 85 respectively; scores <51 were categorized as unfavourable and ≥51 as favourable to early marriage. Data were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics. Sixty-three percent of respondents were male, majority (67.5%) were Yoruba, 26.4% were Hausa and 6.0% comprised other ethnic groups. Overall mean age was 16.1±2.3 years, the mean ages of Yoruba, Hausa and adolescents belonging to other ethnic groups were 16.4±2.0, 15.3±2.6 and 15.3±2.4 years respectively. Sixty-one percent of respondents had secondary education. Seventy-four percent of respondents had good knowledge of early marriage and associated problems. Common associated problems mentioned were deprivation of childhood (76.8%), poor child care (75.8%), obstructed labour (68.3%), high risk of vessico-vagina fistula (65.2%), poor access to contraceptives (65.2%) and high risk of HIV/AIDS (59.4%). Fifty-nine percent of respondents were not favourably disposed to early marriage. Seventy-percent of respondents reported that early marriage was a common practice in their community. Common reasons for the practice were prevention of premarital sex (88.8%), teenage pregnancy (82.7%), poverty (77.9%) and upholding tradition (72.8%). Of 23 (16%) female respondents who were currently married, 52.2% were Hausa, 39.1% were Yoruba and 8.7% were from other ethnic groups. About 74% of those currently married did so before 18 years and the majority (73.9%) of these were Muslims. The mean age at marriage was 15.7±1.9 years. The mean age at marriage for Yoruba was 16.9±1.3, Hausa (15.0±2.0) and other ethnic groups (15.5±0.7). A higher proportion of 15-19 years (78.0%) than 10-14years (59.3%) adolescents had good knowledge of early marriage and associated problems (p<0.05). Also, more 10-14 years (69.2%) than 15-19 years (32.8%) adolescents had favourable attitude to early marriage (p<0.05). Religious practice was significantly associated with early marriage with more Muslims (52.9%) than Christians (29.0%) favourably disposed to the practice (p<0.05). A higher proportion of Hausa (52.4%) than Yoruba (34.2%) had favourable attitude to early marriage (p<0.05). Adolescents in the study area have good knowledge about early marriage and its associated problems. However their attitude towards the practice was influenced by age, religion and ethnicity. Religious and cultural sensitisation of adolescents, their parents and community can help reduce this practice.