Research Articles

Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours as Predictors to Depression Severity among Undergraduate Students of Tertiary Institutions in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

2024-09-19T12:15:41Z

Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours as Predictors to Depression Severity among Undergraduate Students of Tertiary Institutions in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria KATO, George Usman This study assessed contextual stressors and barriers to help-seeking behaviours as predictors of depression severity among undergraduate students of tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised 12,578 undergraduate students in FCT, Abuja. The sample size for the study was 408 undergraduate students. The multistage sampling procedure was used to draw the study sample. Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours for Depression Questionnaire (CSBHSBDQ) was used for the study. The face validity was established by five experts while the reliability (internal consistency) of the CSBHSBDQ was determined using Cronbach’s alpha statistics. The reliability coefficients of 0.71 and 0.74 were obtained for sections A and B of the CSBHSBDQ respectively. The research questions were answered using point-biserial correlation. Multiple regression was used to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that there is a moderate positive relationship between depression level and social/environment (rbp = 0.32) and financial stress (rbp = 0.33), while fear of therapy (rbp = 0.37), fear of self-discovery (rbp = 0.39) and fear of stigma (rbp = 0.37) showed a moderate positive relationship between depression level and barriers to behaviours. Social/physical environment (beta = .205, p = .000 < .05) and financial stress (beta = .216, p =.000 < .05) were significant contextual stressors of depression severity among undergraduate students, while fear of therapy (beta = 1.026, p = .001 < .05), fear of self-discovery (beta = 1.026, p = .001 < .05) and fear of stigma (beta = 1.081, p = .001 < .05) were significant barriers to help-seeking behaviours of depression severity among undergraduate students. The study recommended that necessary stakeholders should embark on stigma-reduction campaigns to create awareness around campuses and help remove stereotypes associated with depression.

DIFFERENTIALS IN THE STIGMATIZATION AGAINST MENTALLY ILL PERSONS AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2024-05-27T11:39:48Z

DIFFERENTIALS IN THE STIGMATIZATION AGAINST MENTALLY ILL PERSONS AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS KATO, George U. This study examined the differentials in the stigmatization against mentally ill persons among mental health professionals (MHPs). The correlation research design was used for the study and the instrument for data collection was a researchers-designed questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was established. The Spearman 13rown Rank order Correlation Coefficient was used to test the reliability of the instrument. The population for the study consisted of 105 MIPs which also constituted the sample. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The research questions were answered using the correlation coefficient while regression analysis was used in testing the null hypotheses. The results of the study revealed that the relationship between MHPs' age, gender, level of education, and stigmatization was very low. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended among others that both male and female MHPs, irrespective of their characteristics, be involved in the anti-stigma campaigns using a team approach.

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods among Married Women in Selected Communities in Tarauni L.G.A., Kano State

2024-05-27T11:18:53Z

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods among Married Women in Selected Communities in Tarauni L.G.A., Kano State KATO, George U. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and the utilization of family planning methods among married women in selected communities of Tarauni Local Government Area. The study provided insights to family planning educators and reproductive health researchers/workers for understanding the criteria that can be used to examine the knowledge and use of family planning methods. Moreover, the study was guided by two research questions. Survey design was used for it. The population consists of 11, 503 women attending the antenatal clinic of the public primary healthcare facilities (PPHFs) in selected communities (Tarauni Gabas, Unguwa Uku Gari, Babbangiji and Hotoro) of Tarauni LGA. The sample size for the study, which is three-hundred-and-seventy (370), comprised three-hundred-and-thirty married women. A sample size 370 was a drawn using a cluster random sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed a good knowledge of traditional family planning methods among married women with a significant number having a poor knowledge of modem family planning methods. The study also revealed high levels of the utilization of family planning methods but with traditional methods being the most used. The study recommended, among others, the need for government and non-governmental organizations to embark on more vigorous sensitization campaigns to equip married women with knowledge of modem family planning methods and their efficacies and limitations

Psychological distress, burnout, and coping sis strategies among Nigerian primary school teachers: a school-based cross-sectional study

2024-05-27T11:18:06Z

Psychological distress, burnout, and coping sis strategies among Nigerian primary school teachers: a school-based cross-sectional study KATO, George U. Background: The teaching profession is highly stressed job. A high level of stress is associated with poor health outcomes, such as burnout and psychological distress. Therefore, teachers of coping styles become imperative. However, relatively little is known about primary school teachers' psychological distress, burnout, coping strategies, and associated factors in Nigeria. The study investigated psychological distress, burnout, coping strategies among primary schools, and associated factors in Nigeria. Methods: A total of 264 teachers aged 20-59 years participated in the study between May 2019 to October 2019. Questionnaires on psychological distress, burnout, coping strategies, and demographic profile forms were used for I data collection. Factors associated with psychological distress, burnout, and coping strategies were identified using r-test, univariate ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, Chi-square test, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results: Of 264 participants enrolled for the study, 253 responded, giving a response rate of 95.8%.The prevalence of psychological distress and burnout was 69.9% (176/253) and 36.0% (91/253), respectively. Sex ((3 = 0.158), a high level of emotional exhaustion ((3 = 0.193) and reduced personal accomplishment ((3 = 0.358), adoption of problem-focused strategies ((3=0.904), and dysfunctional strategies ((3 = 0.340) were positively associated with psychological distress. Age ((3 = -0.338), academic qualification (|3 = — 0.210), and income level ((3 = -0.146) were inversely associated with psychological distress, which together explained 51.5% of the total variance. Psychological distress ((3 = 0.275 vs. P = 0.404) was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion (EE) and reduced personal accomplishment (PA) and explained 11.4 and 24.2% of the variance in EE and reduced PA, respectively. Conclusions: The high prevalence of psychological distress and burnout among teachers should receive urgent attention. Teachers' training curricula should include developing interpersonal skills, stress management abilities, and resilience to equip them for the job. Also, teacher training curricula should integrate mental health promotion interventions.