Maternal perceived self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability and child health outcome in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria

Objective:The problems associated with child health continue to constitute a global concern,and child morbidity and mortality remain problematic in Sub-Sahara Africa(SSA).Utilizing a community-based survey conducted in Ibadan North Local government,Southwest Nigeria the study examined the influences of maternal perceived self-efficacy(MPSE)and maternal perceived vulnerability(MPV)on child health outcomes(CHO).Methods:The study appraised data from 683 nursing mothers aged 15-45 obtained from 20 major primary healthcare centers in the region undergoing routine health checks for their children.Three regression models were fitted to examine the effects of MPV,MPSE,and confounding variables of maternal preventive actions such as insecticide-treated nets(ITN)usage and child immunization,among other maternal and child sociodemographic attributes on CHO.Results:The study finds that MPV has no correlation with CHO and MPSE but positively correlates with maternal age(r=0.123,P<0.05).However,CHO has a negative correlation with MPSE(r=-0.200,P<0.05)while positively correlated with child age(r=0.134,P<0.05).MPSE has a unique effect on CHO(β=-0.203,P<0.05),maternal preventive action of ITN usage show a positive association with CHO in the study Model 2(β=-0.163,P<0.05),while in Model 3,child's age has a positive association with CHO(β=0.180,P<0.05).The net effect of the study models accounted for approximately 10%of the variance in CHO reported among the children.Conclusion:Overall,MPSE and ITN usage are essential factors for understanding and reducing the potential adverse CHO.Global effort must continue to improve maternal education to support child health and preventive carepractices in SSA.

The Stigma of Epilepsy among Outpatients in a Tertiary Hospital in South-East Nigeria

Background: The stigma of epilepsy is pervasive in developing country contexts and negatively affects the psychological and social wellbeing of its sufferers. The experience of stigma varies across settings and probably relate to disease severity and social characteristics. This study sought to describe the extent and correlates of perceived and enacted stigma among outpatients with epilepsy. Methods: The participants were consecutively presenting epilepsy outpatients in a tertiary facility that attended clinic regularly and had no overt medical or psychiatric co-morbidities. The patients were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: There were 93 participants with a mean age of 30.2 ± 10.3 years and 57.0% were males. The experience of stigma was reported by 46.2% and 67.7% of the participants for perceived and enacted stigma, respectively. Over one-third of the patients had suffered burns or a similar injury in the past. The correlates of perceived stigma were rural residence, lower levels of education, and longer duration of illness. Gender, age and frequency of seizures were not statistically significant determinants. The correlates of enacted stigma were being single, older age, rural residence, and longer duration of epilepsy. A past history of burns and disclosure of epilepsy to individuals outside the family added to the likelihood of experiencing stigma. Conclusion: The burden of epilepsy related social stigma is high in Nigeria. Cultural stereotypes and misconception add to this. There is need for appropriate culture-congruent educational interventions to provide the right information about epilepsy and debunk the misconceptions and myths associated with the condition. This will need to be coupled with astute clinical management of cases and active case finding. Both qualitative and longitudinal quantitative studies would be required to deepen our understanding of the lived reality of grappling with stigma in our setting.

Relationship between glycemic control and perceived family support among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus seen in a rich kinship network in Southwest Nigeria

Objective:The practice of diabetes self-care behaviors has been cited as a foundation for achieving optimal glycemic control.Proper motivation of people with diabetes mellitus is,howev-er,needed for the performance of these behaviors.It is therefore pertinent to know if motivation by the family will improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between glycemic control and perceived family support among Ni-gerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conduced on 316 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended a medical outpatient clinic.Data were collected through a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and a standardized tool(Perceived Social Support-Family scale).Hemoglobin A1c level was used as an indicator of glycemic control.Results:The proportion of participants with good glycemic control was 40.6%.Most of the participants(137,43.8%)had strong perceived family support.Strong perceived family support(P=0.00001,odds ratio 112.51)was an independent predictor of good glycemic control.Conclusion:This study shows that strong perception of family support is a predictor of gly-cemic control among the adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus studied.Physicians working in sub-Saharan African countries with rich kinship networks should harness the available family support of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in their management.

领悟社会支持、实际社会支持与大学生抑郁

该研究以316名大学生为被试,探讨了领悟社会支持和实际社会支持与大学生抑郁之间的关系。结构方程模型的分析表明,大学生对当前社会支持的领悟对抑郁具有直接的缓冲作用;实际社会支持主要通过领悟社会支持对大学生的抑郁情绪起缓冲作用。研究结果暗示着,领悟社会支持是一种在应对压力情境中发展起来的特质或图式,在个体应对压力时表现为一种弹性人格,从而防止消极情绪的恶化或产生。

客观社会支持通过主观社会支持的中介作用

目的:在区分客观社会支持与主观社会支持的基础上,探讨客观社会支持、主观社会支持影响心理健康、专业成就和环境适应的机制,即中介效应。方法:采用戴忠恒、祝蓓里修订的卡特尔16种人格因素问卷(16PF)以及肖水源编制社会支持评定量表对来自广东省三个城市14所幼儿园的501名教师进行了问卷调查。结果:(1)客观社会支持与主观社会支持显著相关,相关系数为0.355(p<0.01);(2)主观社会支持在客观社会支持与心理健康、专业成就和环境适应之间部分中介作用显著。结论:(1)客观支持与主观支持是不相同的,但两者有一定关系;(2)客观社会支持能直接影响幼儿教师的心理健康、专业成就和环境适应,而且通过主观的社会支持间接影响幼儿教师的心理健康、专业成就和环境适应。