Postgraduate

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Allies or enemies? Multiple case studies of individual music therapy work exploring my practice-based learning experience in working with accompanying ward staff members in inpatient learning disabilities services for adults in a psychiatric hospital
(2022) Unknown author
This project was inspired by my experience and feelings in working with other staff members in music therapy sessions during my second-year practice-based learning working in inpatient learning disabilities services for adults in a psychiatric hospital. A review of existing literature discussed findings about staff’s influence on music therapy perceived by music therapists working in different settings and with different years of experience. A research gap is found where the potential changes in the therapist-client-staff relationship over time are under-researched. In the context of my journey in the placement setting, this project aims to 1) explore different roles of accompanying staff members during music therapy sessions; 2) explore their influence on therapeutic relationship and process throughout the therapy; and 3) explore their influence on my developing identity of trainee therapist throughout the therapy. Underpinned by hermeneutic phenomenology, this project used multiple cases studies to illustrate my clinical work with three clients and the staff members who accompanied the sessions. Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) was adopted to generate findings from process notes, reflective journal entries and supervision notes. Fifteen themes were identified and presented in the initial, middle, and later phases of the course of therapy. In the initial phase, although staff’s pre-existing relationship with clients facilitated my initial connections with clients, the lack of understanding and trust between staff and me produced some negative feelings which were reflected in the therapeutic space. In the middle phase, I started to initiate more communications with staff so that we understood each other more, thereby enabling a more harmonious space for therapist-staff-client relationship to further develop. In the later phase, I felt more confident and autonomous in therapy and the therapist-client relationship started to provide positive influences on the staff-client relationship and the wider care setting. This project illustrated the relationship between therapist, staff, and client, as well as the trainee therapist’s identity would change and develop concurrently throughout the course of therapy.
Assessing the Impact of School-Related Stress and Associated Coping Strategies on the Mental Health of Undergraduate Students in Nigeria
(2024-08-05) Unknown author
University students are among the categories of people who experience elevated and prolonged stress globally. Due to protracted exposure to diverse stressors in their academic and home environments, they also experience chronic stress which affects their mental balance and wellness. Against this background, this study investigated academic stress among Nigerian undergraduate students, focusing on its causes, gender distribution, mental health correlates, and coping strategies. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were employed to 70 students between ages 18-27 from Nigerian universities to complete a self-administered cross-sectional online survey. The data was statistically analysed in SPSS. Results revealed high stress levels, with over 80% of participants reporting high to very high academic stress. Primary stressors included academic workload, fear of failing exams, and financial concerns. Contrary to many international studies, male students reported higher stress levels than females, suggesting unique cultural and societal pressures. Mental health correlates showed significant relationships between stress and feelings of anxiety and sleep disturbances, while feelings depression exhibited a complex, non-significant association despite high prevalence. Spirituality and entertainment emerged as the most common coping strategies, while academic support services were underutilized due to stigma and lack of awareness. Limitations include the small sample size and cross-sectional design. Future research should employ larger samples, longitudinal designs, and mixed methods to deeper explore the nuanced stress experiences of Nigerian students. This study contributes to the understanding of academic stress in the Nigerian context and provides a foundation for evidence-based reforms to promote student well-being alongside academic success.
ASSESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL BURDENS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN IN DAMARE IDP CAMP, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.
(2024-02-12) Unknown author
Children in North-Eastern Nigeria have endured prolonged exposure to armed conflict since 2009 due to the activities of the extremist group Boko Haram. This ongoing conflict has a direct and adverse impact on the development of children in North-Eastern Nigeria. This phenomenological study explored the mental health and psychosocial burdens experienced by internally displaced children due to the Boko Haram insurgency. Eight parents/caregivers of the Internally Displaced children from Damare IDP Camp, Adamawa State, Nigeria were interviewed. Findings revealed profound trauma, grief and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms among children who endured and witnessed extreme violence. High prevalence of flashbacks, emotional numbness, sleep troubles, and poor concentration aligned with research on mental health outcomes of terrorism and disaster exposures. Attacks also severely disrupted education, through destruction of over 1500 schools, fears undermining attendance and declining academic capacity amidst grief over dead peers. The available coping and support services within the IDP camp are minimally provided by the Government, Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and vitally, religious groups. Multiple barriers persist around affordability, transport, understaffing, stigmatization, and misconceptions about mental illness treatment. Urgent action is imperative to aid recovery and resilience among vulnerable displaced children facing lasting psychological scars. Recommendations include improving camp infrastructure, eliminating service fees, rebuilding bombed schools, equipping community workers for basic cognitive interventions, increasing mental health outreach and medication access, sponsoring accelerated learning programs, reducing stigma via collaborating with religious leaders, and advancing research on sociocultural dimensions influencing displaced children’s trauma within this context.
ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP OF FOOD SECURITY, CHILD MENTAL HEALTH, AND DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL NIGERIA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
(2024-02-12) Unknown author
Aims: This narrative review aims to critically examine existing literature spanning from 2013 to 2023, focusing on unravelling the intricate connections between food security, child mental health, and development in rural Nigerian settings. Methods: Employing a narrative review methodology, this study carefully selected and analysed six key studies. Diverse research designs, including cross-sectional surveys, descriptive study, and prospective study, were utilised to investigate the relationships between food security, child mental health, and development in rural Nigeria. Results/Findings: The outcomes of the selected studies illuminate multifaceted challenges faced by children in the rural areas of Nigeria. Notable disparities in food security, psychological well-being, and dietary diversity across different regions were identified. The findings underscore the urgent need for context-specific interventions and policies tailored toward addressing the unique socio-economic, geographical, and cultural factors influencing child well-being in rural Nigeria. Discussion: The discussion center on the implications of the research findings, emphasizing the pressing need for targeted interventions to address the identified challenges. It explores the complex interplay of socio-economic, geographical, and cultural factors affecting child well-being, with a focus on how these factors contribute to disparities in food security and mental health outcomes. Conclusion: In conclusion, this review should contribute with insights to the academic discourse, providing guidance for future research endeavours and informing evidence-based strategies. The urgent recommendation is the implementation of context-specific interventions and policies to enhance the overall health and development of children in rural Nigerian settings. The discussion also emphasizes the critical importance of addressing factors such as poor road networks and infrastructure in tackling the deepening food crisis. Finally, it acknowledges the alarming rate of population growth compared to food availability, the conclusion therefore emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to alleviate the impact on children, who emerge as the major victims in this complex scenario.
“At that time, I couldn’t understand very well” An exploratory study of volunteering as a pathway to integration for asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland
(2024-02-12) Unknown author
Introduction: The year 2023 saw the highest number of people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom (UK) for two decades (Home Office, 2023a). Therefore, examining experiences of asylum seekers and refugees integrating into communities has become increasingly relevant. The UK government holds a particularly restrictive approach to immigration and asylum, including not allowing asylum seekers to take up employment. As such, the Home Office (2023c) encourages people who seek asylum to volunteer whilst their claim is being considered. This dissertation is concerned with the role of volunteering as a potential pathway towards the process of integration for asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow. Methods: This dissertation adopts a qualitative study approach, based on secondary analysis of 14 interviews with refugees. Thematic analysis was guided by a conceptual framework, Indicators of Integration Framework (Ndofor-Tah et al., 2019), to understand the experiences of volunteering for asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow and to what extent does volunteering aid or discourage integration. Findings: Based on the analysis of the interviews, factors both supporting and hindering refugee integration emerged, providing a nuanced picture of the role of volunteering towards integration. The positive pathways from volunteering to integration were: connections to people and organisations, multi-cultural learning, indirect progress towards employment and the fact that volunteering provided a purpose. The limiting pathways from volunteering to integration were: limited evidence of volunteering leading to direct employment and that it was yet another system to navigate. Conclusion: The findings of this study point to the fact that in many cases, volunteering has proved to be a valuable resource for newcomers who are from a background very different to the environment in which they find themselves. It was also noted that volunteering has the capacity to be dynamic and person specific therefore, activating different pathways to integration over the time continuum from first arrival into the country.
Attachment Trauma and the use of Music Therapy to support children and young people experiencing it: A narrative literature review
(2022) Unknown author
The concepts of complex trauma, insecure attachment, and C-PTSD have grown in popularity both in the general public as well as scientific research over the last decade. Music therapy is one of the modalities that is used as a treatment method supporting people experiencing what can be summarised under the term attachment trauma. However, there is an incoherence and a certain unclarity in the definitions and connections between these different concepts. This is reflected in the music therapy literature addressing such concepts. The context section provides clarification of the several terms. This narrative literature review synthetises and analyses music therapy research addressing the experience of attachment trauma in children and young people regarding its focusses and cohesiveness. It aims to contribute to the growing body of literature researching therapeutic interventions for people with a history of complex trauma and to examine the role of music in such interventions. The findings section provides an analysis of different therapeutic concepts, approaches, and techniques. The inherent relation between musicality and early attachment suggests the usefulness of music therapy as a treatment method. The specific use of music therapy in delineation to other creative therapies is outlined and the limitations and implications for the field of music therapy are discussed.
Barriers to accessing culturally appropriate perinatal healthcare for Black migrant mothers and babies from Sub-Saharan Africa living in Scotland
(2023-03-31) Unknown author
Background: Healthcare providers and stakeholders acknowledge the increasing migration and the barriers to accessing healthcare services in high-resource countries (HRCs), including Scotland. However, delivering equitable, culturally conducive care (CCC), and good quality healthcare to those from culturally diverse ethnic groups continues to be a complex and vast issue faced by high-income countries (WHO, 2016). Methods: Snowball sampling was used in this qualitative study. Eight women voluntarily participated in semi-structured interviews (SSI) to gain a better understanding of the health disparities among black African immigrant mothers (BAIMs) from Sub-Saharan Africa. In the SSIs, open-ended questions were asked to gather insights of the lived experiences and perspectives of BAIMB-SSA, focusing on service provisions and the barriers to accessing relevant perinatal health services in Scotland. Results: The findings highlight multifaceted factors and barriers that could be mediated by a multilevel intersectoral approach. The data analysis was guided by the Levesque conceptual framework (2013). Seven themes emerged from the analysis: health system knowledge, racism, cultural norms, communication, social support networks, immigration, and financial challenges. Conclusion: Scotland's focus on migration, diversity, and equal opportunities in healthcare remains, but disparities in service delivery for minority groups persist. Research in areas such as (i) an in-depth understanding of the health needs of specific groups of black African women living in Scotland, (ii) the physical, social, and psychological barriers they face when accessing healthcare facilities, and (iii) ways to improve health outcomes by giving the women improved access to health care services are urgently needed.
“Barriers to mental health services: A Narrative Review of Obstacles to Care Access Amongst Syrian Asylum Seekers and Refugees Residing in Türkiye”
(2024-08-05) Unknown author
The ongoing Syrian civil war has precipitated a massive forced displacement, with Türkiye hosting approximately 3.76 million Syrian asylum seekers (UNHCR, 2023). Despite the high prevalence of mental health conditions among this population, significant gaps remain in understanding the obstacles they face in accessing essential mental health services. This dissertation presents a narrative review synthesizing existing research on the barriers to mental health care access for Syrian asylum seekers in Türkiye. Utilizing the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) pyramid framework, this study examines the multi-layered factors influencing mental health service accessibility and utilization. The review explores socio-cultural, economic, and political barriers, as well as systemic challenges within the Turkish healthcare system that impact service provision for this vulnerable population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, focusing on studies published between 2014 and 2024. The narrative synthesis highlights key themes in access barriers, including cultural beliefs and stigma, language barriers, lack of awareness about available services, financial constraints, and policy-related challenges. The findings of this review contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of factors affecting mental health care access for Syrian population in Türkiye. By elucidating these barriers, this study aims to inform policy makers, healthcare providers, and humanitarian organizations in developing more effective, culturally sensitive, and accessible mental health interventions for this population. This research underscores the need for innovative approaches to mental health service delivery, such as community-based interventions and cross-sector partnerships, to enhance the reach and impact of psychological support for Syrian asylum seekers in Türkiye. The insights gained from this review can guide future initiatives aimed at improving mental health outcomes and overall well-being for this displaced population.
A Case Study in Non-Directive Child-Centred Play Therapy & Silent Nonverbal Communication. Self-expression through different play mediums and symbols in the playroom.
(2024) Unknown author
Silence and nonverbal communication carry many meanings; however, society and educational settings often may not see them as valuable communication or self-expression tools. In the Play Therapy context, that is more recognisable, but still, some therapists may hold prejudice against silence and nonverbal cues as means for connecting and expressing one's inner self. Even though language is a unique human trait and skill that allows us to verbally articulate our interpretations of the world, children might not find language as easily accessible. Trauma, adversity, brain development and the ineffectiveness of language for capturing the depths of our experiences might be why some children use silent and nonverbal communication through different play mediums (e.g. painting, clay, building blocks) in the therapeutic space. To conduct the case study, I used hermeneutic phenomenology with thematic and phenomenological analysis to explore the interpretation of my and the child's meaning of silent nonverbal communication in the playroom. Through observations, supervision, reviewing images of the child's work and my own process and holding the unknown at the centre of our shared experience, I could identify and synthesise the child's work into themes and use reflection and reflexivity to gain insights into the shared phenomenon. The child used those play mediums and symbols to explore and make sense of their trauma and family dynamics, which are, in general, difficult to articulate verbally and in the course of attending Play Therapy, the child became more confident, relaxed, self-aware and validating of themselves. However, that empowerment may not be solely due to the therapeutic intervention. Moreover, considering the unknown factor of hermeneutic phenomenology, cultural differences and day-to-day circumstances, my interpretations of the phenomenon and the child's work may have a different meaning than the child's meaning-making.
Case Study: The Use of the Cello in Music Therapy for Children with Autism
(2023) Unknown author
This study investigates the use of the cello within music therapy for children with autism. The main objectives of this study are to examine the use of the cello for reducing anxieties, building self-esteem, and developing communication. I researched a breadth of literature to support my chosen topic. By incorporating my own experiences alongside existing literature, I identified research gaps, prompting me to explore in further detail my chosen topic through a case study series of my own work. I engaged in music therapy with three children and focused on the first six music therapy sessions with each of them, addressing the main purpose of this study. Primarily, I collected the data by writing down notes based on my observations from these sessions. Additionally, with child and parental consent, data were also collected from audio and video recordings of sessions. Having then identified key themes from sessions, I was able to compare the use of the cello for each child in music therapy sessions. In general, my results mostly showed positive effects for each child when the cello was used; however, barriers to using the cello were also identified, where perhaps the cello had some negative effects on the children I worked with. This research was conducted over several weeks, and once completed, music therapy engagement continued with two of the children. This gave me some insight into the effects of the use of the cello on these children beyond the first six sessions. However, when sessions were completed with each child, the effects that the cello may have on these children on a longer-term scale are unknown. In the future, it would be beneficial to include a wider range of children with an autistic condition for the purposes of such a study, to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of the use of the cello with this client group. It may also be beneficial to include young people in mainstream secondary schools, to target a wider age range and to see the effects of the use of the cello for older aged children. Finally, it could be recommended to direct this study over a longer period, to see the longer-term effects the cello has on children with autism.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: An intervention of promise for mental health consequences of racial discrimination among refugees- A narrative review.
(2023-02-13) Unknown author
Background: Despite yet-unidentified eradicative measures, the poison of racism permeates the fabric of modern society, which is replete with racial discrimination. Regardless, vulnerable populations such as refugees are not impervious to its deleterious impact. While we wait for a definitive solution to racism, it is critical that an intervention be offered to mitigate the psychological effects of racial discrimination on this high-risk population. The mental health consequences of racial discrimination are well documented in the refugee population; however, there is no empirically proven intervention to mitigate its negative effects. Cognitive behavioural interventions (TF-CBT and CA-CBT) may be a novel intervention for reducing the psychological effects of racism among refugees. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CBT has the potential to mitigate the psychological effects of racial discrimination among refugees. Method: A narrative review using a systematic approach to conduct a search in the MEDLINE, PROQUEST, and PSYCHINFO databases. In total, 18 studies were critically reviewed. Findings: The findings' themes emphasize the characteristics of the ideal intervention to mitigate the mental health consequences of discrimination among refugees: multi-layered, transdiagnostic, culturally and ethnically sensitive, school-based, skill-based, and goal-oriented. Conclusion: CBT principles modified to address the positionality (social, historical, and cultural context of refugees) would produce similar results to CBT for mental health disorders caused by pre-migration trauma. Future research is needed to empirically prove CBT as the intervention of choice for reducing the mental health consequences of racism among refugees.
“Connecting the Dots”: An Autoethnographic Exploration into the Potential of Cross-modal Creative Approaches in Music Therapy with Adolescents in a Mainstream Secondary School.
(2022) Unknown author
This is an autoethonographic practice-based project that describes a Music Therapy learner’s exploration into the potential of cross-modal creative approaches within which there is an examination of cross-modal occurrences in practice during a final year practice placement in a mainstream secondary school while working with adolescents. By using three narratives describing turning points in practice that led to questioning around cross-modal approaches in Music Therapy, this dissertation will explore the potential of using other modalities such as Art and Play in Music Therapy sessions with adolescents and examine the wider potential of cross-modal creative approaches through the lens of the Music Therapist’s experience. Data around cross-modal occurrences were collected and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Data sources such as clinical, process and reflection notes as well as audio recordings and artwork made by the Music Therapist provide insight into the experience cross-modal creative occurrences and approaches in individual and group sessions with adolescents as well as becoming part of a creative reflection process for the Music Therapist. From this analysis, four main themes arose: what do adolescents bring and take from sessions, what do client(s) and therapist interactions require when working with cross-modality, ambivalence about musical foundations and cross-modal transference between therapy and school. From the findings, the enquiry concludes that adolescents often bring a curiosity about using cross-modal ways of engaging in Therapy such as drawing and games, and within these modes, they often express feelings about school including peer and staff interpersonal relationships. The implication of this finding is that adolescents may bring cross-modal ways of learning into therapy as a familiar pathway to approach expression within sessions thus linking their therapeutic experience with their educational experience. This autoethnographic exploration also found creative approaches to reflection also arose from a need to understand cross-modal occurrences within therapy sessions.
The Contribution of Unsafe Abortion to Mortality and Morbidity in Nigeria: A Narrative Review
(2024-02-11) Unknown author
Introduction: Unsafe abortion is a cause of maternal mortality and a leading cause of morbidity among women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 to 49 years. Between 2015 and 2019, an estimated 73.3 million abortions are anticipated to be performed annually, with roughly 8 million of those cases taking place in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Unsafe abortion practices play a significant role in Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate of 800 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Nigeria, abortion is only legalised in situations where a mother's life is in danger, such as incest or rape. Objective: This research aimed to identify the complications and maternal mortality associated with unsafe abortion and make recommendations for policy change. Methods: Several databases were used, and the Prisma guidelines for narrative reviews were followed, to conduct a narrative literature review. Among the databases were CNAHL and Med-line. Twenty studies in total were chosen for this study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This research used the human rights framework and feminism theory and a lens to understanding the impact of abortion restrictions on women in Nigeria. Findings: Unsafe abortion leads to maternal mortality in Nigeria and about 8 patients in our study had maternal deaths. Complications from unsafe abortion included bleeding, infection, peritonitis, incomplete abortion, and infertility. The most frequent complications, according to the data, were incomplete abortion (30.3%), sepsis (27.17%), and haemorrhage (20.27%). Maternal deaths were 2.3%. Recommendation: There is a need for policy change in Nigeria due to unsafe abortion related complications and mortality. Abortion should also be allowed following mental, social and economic reasons and also on a woman’s request. Conclusion: There is substantial evidence that unsafe abortion leads to maternal mortality and complications, hence there is a need for policy reform on unsafe abortion.
COPING MECHANISMS AND THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ON INTERNATIONAL POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE UK: A CASE STUDY OF QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY MUSSELBURGH, SCOTLAND
(2024-08-26) Unknown author
Background We know that mental health poses a great challenge globally because it has been widely proven in literature that there is a burden of mental health issues, including depression among international postgraduate students due to several factors (Evans et al., 2018). The stressors of this burden range from socio-economic factors to others such as academic and personal well- being (Hosseinpur et al., 2023). Aims Based on this evidence, this research engaged international postgraduate students (IPS) in Queen Margaret University (QMU) Musselburgh, Scotland United Kingdom (UK) to: i. Identify the ways through which mental health (MHC) including depression influences their academic performance; ii. Its impact on their well-being and social interactions and iii. To explore the various coping mechanisms that they deploy to handle these challenges (for this study, the acronyms IPS, MHC, QMU and UK will be frequently used). . Methods A qualitative driven methodological approach through purposive sampling, using descriptive online survey with sixty-two respondents and four participants in a semi-structured interview was employed to conduct this study. Descriptive statistics of percentages were used to analyse the data on the JISC Online Survey platform. Results Most IPS experienced MHC after they began their postgraduate studies at QMU, and the most experienced MHC was stress. This arose out of the pressures of finding a balance between the academic workload, finding accommodation, financial security and the demands of adapting to and settling down in a new/ foreign environment far away from friends and family while balancing their well-being and social interactions. Self-help and family support was the most engaged coping mechanism by IPS and most of these postgraduate students also employ more than one coping mechanism to manage their MHC. Conclusion improving inclusive measures of ongoing guidance and support from the QMU authorities both within and outside the school vicinity for these set of students. An adjustment by the UK government in the policies guiding the regulations around IPS dependants and work permits should also be considered for easier and faster acclimatization. Further studies on IPS in the master's degree certificate category in smaller universities should be researched to help give a better understanding of how these set of students cope with MHC in their own contexts.
A critical analysis of mental health services and ‘care’ provision among the women and adolescent refugees in Palestine.
(2024-08-26) Unknown author
A broad range of discussion is going around the globe in relation to Israeli-Palestine conflict, which is still going on. But in each discussion, we are vaguely looking into the life of the displaced Palestinians. Women and children are considered as the most vulnerable population even though there are a lot of law implemented and proposed to protect them; it often ends up making more damages than reconstructing. Here in this postgraduate research study, we are looking into the spectrum of service provision and mental health services provided among the women and adolescents in Palestine. We are also looking into the ways in which mental health and psychosocial supports help, protect and guide them; where it needed to be changed for the betterment of the community through peer reviewed research papers from databases such as PubMed, EBSCO, UN agencies and books published in relation to the topic. Here in this research, the researcher looks at the service providers, provision and how it is helping the population to overcome the constant traumatic experience they are facing in their daily life and the concept that gives them hope to move forward.
Decentralization of resistant pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in Pakistan: evaluation of Xpert® MTB/XDR Assay for rapid detection of fluoroquinolones and isoniazid resistant TB
(2023-08-07) Unknown author
Background: Drug resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a major threat to global health. In high burden DR-TB settings, as Pakistan, decentralization of drug susceptibility testing (DST) is one of the key strategies recommended by WHO to end the TB epidemic. The peripheral rapid DST for isoniazid and fluoroquinolones is now possible as a new molecular assay, Xpert® MTB/XDR (Cepheid, USA) was recently endorsed by WHO. Aim: This study aims to assess the performance of Xpert® MTB/XDR and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing this test in peripheral settings in Pakistan. It also proposed an updated DR-TB diagnostic algorithm tailored to the country diagnostic network needs. Methods: To establish Xpert® MTB/XDR accuracy, a secondary data analysis was performed using results from a cross sectional observational study previously conducted. A thematic literature review provided data on Pakistan TB diagnostic network. Findings: The accuracy analysis demonstrated that Xpert® MTB/XDR has the characteristics required by WHO for the detection of isoniazid resistance at the peripheral level. Regarding fluoroquinolones resistance, Xpert® MTB/XDR reaches only one of the WHO targets (i.e., sensitivity) in the RR-TB cohort (90,48%; 95%CI 80,7-95,8). Even if the standard for DST remains the phenotypic test, a faster and more reliable assay appears to be needed in this setting. Conclusion: The proposed DR-TB diagnostic algorithm, tailored to Pakistan diagnostic network needs, may reduce considerably TB diagnosis turnaround time. This strategy will contribute to ensure equitable and prompt access to DR-TB diagnosis, improving the diagnostic network effectiveness and efficacy in ensuring TB care and control.
DIABETES PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN NIGERIA: EXPLORING THE RESPONSE OF THE HEALTH SECTOR.
(2024-02-12) Unknown author
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) arising from disorders in carbohydrate metabolism. It affects about 422 million people worldwide and prevalence has been shown to be on the increase in Nigeria with an estimated 4 million affected people. Besides the effect on the quality of life, the disease poses an economic burden on the individuals, families and the Nigerian health systems. Thus, necessitating a review of the response towards prevention and control by the healthcare sector, the challenges as well as the existing policies. This will help determine how to move forward with current policies as well as how to implement better best practices. Methods: A desk study is carried out to explore the responses for diabetes prevention and control, policies and challenges of the Nigerian healthcare sector. This study was guided by the 2021 framework for action on diabetes prevention and control in the WHO eastern Mediterranean region to identify challenges of diabetes prevention and control. Also guiding this review is the Non-communicable disease (NCDs) policies programme theory by Loffreda et al. (2023) to identify existing policies in Nigeria. Results: Nigeria has demonstrated commendable efforts in implementing public health education and awareness as strategies for diabetes prevention and control. Findings show that there are challenges of poor knowledge of best diabetes care practices among healthcare professionals as well as insufficient number of workers in the healthcare facilities. In addition, the healthcare institutions especially at the primary healthcare levels were noted to be poorly equipped to manage DM. Finally, it was discovered that the policies for diabetes prevention and control were poorly implemented. All these findings have been linked to challenges in healthcare financing and poor leadership. Conclusions: Despite the increase in prevalence of diabetes mellitus, Nigeria has made little progress in diabetes care as well as implementing prevention and control policies. It is suggested that the country looks into improving on human resources, health institutions and healthcare financing.
Displacement: A focus on the mental state of women in Internally Displaced People’s camp Enugu state, Nigeria
(2023-02-13) Unknown author
The mental state of women has been a problem in Nigerian IDP camps due to the camp settings and trauma induced by displacement. The camp in Enugu has poor building infrastructure, insecurity, unavailability of necessities, and poor medical management. These complications influence their psychological well being negatively making recuperation difficult. This leads to an increased decline in their mental state. This dissertation was undertaken as a desk study to examine the mental state of women living in the Enugu IDP camp, monitor health services given to them, hygiene set up at the camp together with the design elements of the IDP camp to determine whether they offer women in the camp standard psychological and social services. Reviewed literature on the mental health of women living in the IDP camp were collected from Research Gate, Science Direct, and Relief Web. Grey literature gathered from organizations such as WHO, UNHCR, and OCHA were also analysed. Conclusions from the researched materials indicate that women living in the Enugu IDP camp need assistance when it comes to health service delivery, sexual and reproductive services, food, sanitation provisions, finances, and protection from gender-based violence and violations of their rights. Further, these women need sustainable long-term support, and their mental state challenges must be addressed for proper recovery, emotional sanity, and merging into the society again.
Effect of Childs’ disability on mothers’ mental health in Lagos state, Nigeria
(2024-02-12) Unknown author
Background Caring for a child with a disability can be overwhelming due to the societal barriers people with disability face which makes them depend on people for daily survival, especially family members leading to increased child caregiving. In Nigeria, most parents, especially mothers, undergo various traumatic experiences figuring out what society and the future hold for their child with a disability, and this also affects their mental well-being. Methods This mixed-method research made use of primary data which was collected through the survey and interview methods. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics to get the frequency and simple percentage of the respondents’ opinions which was represented with a simple bar chat. While thematic analysis was used for the interview, the results were used to triangulate the survey findings. The analysis of the in-depth information gained in this work was guided by the bio-psychosocial model of health and the social model of disability. Results The research findings revealed that the majority of the mothers are stigmatized by their Childs’ disability which puts them away from social engagements like parties, religious centers, and family functions. The findings further revealed that increased parenting stress, loss of hope and social connectedness, and increased family dysfunction were also the effects of child’s disability on the mother’s mental health. Conclusion The areas of effects identified by the research have shown the areas where progress, practice, and policy are needed to help these mothers achieve positive mental health, and also regular engagement with and support to the mothers will lead to improved health outcomes.
Effects of Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Healthcare Service Use in Ghana: A Scoping Review
(2024-09-05) Unknown author
Background Mental illness is a threat to the global world. Globally, in every eight (8) people, one (1) had a mental disorder in 2019 and this is estimated to rise drastically (WHO, 2019). This, apart from the health threats to the globe, also poses economic and social dangers as it leads to low productivity, stigmatisation, discrimination, abuse and high health costs. In Ghana, one in five persons will deal with a mental health issue at some point in their lives (Badu et al., 2018). According to WHO (2011) one out of ten Ghanaians suffers from mental disorders including depression, anxiety schizophrenia, and bipolar to mention a few. Access to mental healthcare in Ghana is crippled with many challenges (Quarshie et al., 2021). This study aims to investigate enablers and barriers to mental health access in Ghana. Methods This study employed a scoping review method to analyse and synthesise articles published from 2018 to 2024 on enablers of barriers to mental health access in Ghana. A search was carried out across electronic databases spanning the years 2018–2024, including CINAHL (EBSCO) (2000–2024), EMBASE (2000–2024), Medline (2000–2024), HealthSTAR (2000–2024), Google Scholar (2000–2024), PsycINFO (2000–2024), PubMed (2000–2024), Scopus Index (2000–2024), and Web of Science (2000–2024). This was done following the guidelines recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for conducting systematic reviews (Pearson et al., 2014. The eligibility criteria for the scoping review were underpinned by the population/concept/context (PCC) framework. To be included, studies had to meet the below criteria: • Studies focused on Ghana regarding barriers and enablers of access and use of mental health services from the perspective of service users were included. • Studies that target multiple participant groups, including stakeholders from government ministries, health professionals, mental health service users based in cities, rural, or remote areas of Ghana, family members/community members, and caregivers were included. • Quantitative and qualitative studies that shed light on barriers and enablers of mental health service delivery were included. Both published and unpublished papers; thesis, commentaries, and expert opinions. • Only articles published in English from 2000 to 2024 shedding light on barriers and enablers of mental health service delivery from the perspective of service users were included. • Articles that elucidated obstacles that impeded the uptake, quality, or level of mental health services being accessed or described facilitators that allowed the uptake, quality, or level of mental health services being received were included. • The review included papers that explore the treatment strategies, enablers, and barriers to accessing mental health services. It also included papers that measure the extent to which mental health service provision functions in Ghana. The exclusion criteria were: • Studies that did not target the variables of interest (i.e. enablers and barriers to access and use of mental health services, and treatment strategies) were excluded. • Also, articles published before 2000 and those published in languages other than English were excluded. • Studies on barriers and facilitators that do not focus on Ghana were excluded.