Pub Date : 2010-04-20DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53919
A. Adewuya, R. Makanjuola
{"title":"Perceived personal attributes of the mentally ill in South-Western Nigeria","authors":"A. Adewuya, R. Makanjuola","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53919","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124470283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-20DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53924
F. Nuhu, O. Odejide, K. Adebayo, O. Adejumo
{"title":"Severity and socio-demographic correlates of deperssion among cancer patients admitted in a Nigerian Teaching hospital","authors":"F. Nuhu, O. Odejide, K. Adebayo, O. Adejumo","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53924","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128014129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-20DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53925
A. Coker, H. Ladapo, R. Lawal, I. O. Malomo
{"title":"Delusion of pregnancy: case reports and review of the literature","authors":"A. Coker, H. Ladapo, R. Lawal, I. O. Malomo","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53925","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133197574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-20DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53920
Lola Kola, Woye Fadahunsi, O. Gureje
{"title":"Mental health research in Africa: Reports from 26 countries","authors":"Lola Kola, Woye Fadahunsi, O. Gureje","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53920","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V7I1.53920","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"2014 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133945024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53304
F. Nuhu, A. Yusuf, S. Aremu
Background: Restraint is a widely used method of controlling patient’s behaviour throughout the world. However, next to nothing is known about its use in the developing countries. Aims: To assess the knowledge of medical staff of a Nigerian psychiatric hospital concerning the use of restraint. Methods: We administered a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study to 74 medical staff to record their socio-demographic characteristics and assess their knowledge about the use of restraint in a psychiatric setting. Results: Fifty eight staff returned duly completed questionnaires (response rate, 78.4%). The mean age was 38.6 years, 69% were nurses and the mean year of practice was 11.9±9.0. Participants agreed that restraint was used to prevent patients from disturbing people 76%, to punish patients 14%, use of restraint could not lead to patient’s death 47%. Thirtyfive percent had no training in the use of restraint. Conclusion: Respondents’ knowledge on some aspects of restraint was poor and this may be due to lack of training. Keywords : restraint, psychiatric ward, knowledge, medical staff
{"title":"Use of Restraint in the Psychiatric Setting: Knowledge of Medical Staff in a Nigerian Psychiatric Hospital","authors":"F. Nuhu, A. Yusuf, S. Aremu","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53304","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Restraint is a widely used method of controlling patient’s behaviour throughout the world. However, next to nothing is known about its use in the developing countries. Aims: To assess the knowledge of medical staff of a Nigerian psychiatric hospital concerning the use of restraint. Methods: We administered a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study to 74 medical staff to record their socio-demographic characteristics and assess their knowledge about the use of restraint in a psychiatric setting. Results: Fifty eight staff returned duly completed questionnaires (response rate, 78.4%). The mean age was 38.6 years, 69% were nurses and the mean year of practice was 11.9±9.0. Participants agreed that restraint was used to prevent patients from disturbing people 76%, to punish patients 14%, use of restraint could not lead to patient’s death 47%. Thirtyfive percent had no training in the use of restraint. Conclusion: Respondents’ knowledge on some aspects of restraint was poor and this may be due to lack of training. Keywords : restraint, psychiatric ward, knowledge, medical staff","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126513067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53301
E. Asekomeh, O. Ebong, A. Onwuchekwa
Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cornerstone of management of patients with HIV infection but requires a high level of adherence in order to achieve viral suppression.Psychosocial factors may affect adherence. Aim: To determine the rate of adherence of adult HIV seropositive adult Nigerian to antiretroviral therapy and the effects of psychosocial factors including psychiatric morbidity, patients’ perception of their illness, availability of social support, preference for alternative medicine on adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out with 192 patients recruited from among patients attending the HIV/AIDS clinics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. All recruited patients were administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire made up of fifty mainly close ended questions on demographic parameters, knowledge and attitude to HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral medication, general health, psychological adaptation to their illness and social support accessible to the patients. A depressive symptom was also assessed with the twelve item GHQ-12. Results: A total of 192 patients were recruited, out of which 187 responded fully to the administered questionnaire. Adherence rate to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (that is patient who took 95% or more of the prescribed antiretroviral drugs in the previous month) was 72.2%. Reasons proffered forgetfulness(24.6%), no pills at dosing time(21.4%), feeling uncomfortable after taking medication(15.1%), trying to save money(10.3%), too many medications(6.3%) and others (22.3%). Factors associated with poor ARV therapy adherence were depression and preference for alternative medical approach like herbal medications. Patients who had poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its treatment, poor social support and self perception of health status as being poor had lower adherence rates. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, level of education and adherence to ARV therapy among patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: The level of adherence to antiretroviral medication among this cohort of patients is poor. Presence of depressive symptoms and preference for alternative non-orthodox therapy are associated with poor antiretroviral therapy adherence. Preference for alternative medicine in search of a permanent cure is high among these patients. Key Words: HIV/AIDS, adherence, antiretroviral therapy, adult Nigerians.
{"title":"Effects of Psychosocial Parameters on Adherence of Adult Nigerians to Antiretroviral Therapy","authors":"E. Asekomeh, O. Ebong, A. Onwuchekwa","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53301","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cornerstone of management of patients with HIV infection but requires a high level of adherence in order to achieve viral suppression.Psychosocial factors may affect adherence. Aim: To determine the rate of adherence of adult HIV seropositive adult Nigerian to antiretroviral therapy and the effects of psychosocial factors including psychiatric morbidity, patients’ perception of their illness, availability of social support, preference for alternative medicine on adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out with 192 patients recruited from among patients attending the HIV/AIDS clinics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. All recruited patients were administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire made up of fifty mainly close ended questions on demographic parameters, knowledge and attitude to HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral medication, general health, psychological adaptation to their illness and social support accessible to the patients. A depressive symptom was also assessed with the twelve item GHQ-12. Results: A total of 192 patients were recruited, out of which 187 responded fully to the administered questionnaire. Adherence rate to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (that is patient who took 95% or more of the prescribed antiretroviral drugs in the previous month) was 72.2%. Reasons proffered forgetfulness(24.6%), no pills at dosing time(21.4%), feeling uncomfortable after taking medication(15.1%), trying to save money(10.3%), too many medications(6.3%) and others (22.3%). Factors associated with poor ARV therapy adherence were depression and preference for alternative medical approach like herbal medications. Patients who had poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its treatment, poor social support and self perception of health status as being poor had lower adherence rates. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, level of education and adherence to ARV therapy among patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: The level of adherence to antiretroviral medication among this cohort of patients is poor. Presence of depressive symptoms and preference for alternative non-orthodox therapy are associated with poor antiretroviral therapy adherence. Preference for alternative medicine in search of a permanent cure is high among these patients. Key Words: HIV/AIDS, adherence, antiretroviral therapy, adult Nigerians.","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"67 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121553386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53300
F. Fatoye, B. Eegunranti, G. K. Fatoye, G. Amoo, O. Aloba, I. Oloniniyi
Background: Information from previous reports tend to suggest that drug use is associated with crime, particularly with homicide offences. Data on drug use among homicide offenders are scarce in Nigeria. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the relationship between psychoactive substance use and homicide. Method: All the 66 homicide offenders in a Nigerian prison and 66 matched control prisoners, charged for nonviolent offences were studied. Information on socio-demographic variables and drug use was obtained from all the respondents by interview. Results: Before imprisonment, the homicide offenders reported the use of alcohol, cannabis and stimulants with rates of 34.6%, 15.2% and 1.5% respectively. During imprisonment, lower rates of use were reported for these substances. These were 6.1% 1.5% and 6.1% respectively. The consolidated drug use rate among the non-violent prisoners (74.2%) was significantly higher than for the homicide defendants (53.0%), before imprisonment (p
{"title":"Homicide and Psychoactive Substance use among Offenders in a Nigerian Prison.","authors":"F. Fatoye, B. Eegunranti, G. K. Fatoye, G. Amoo, O. Aloba, I. Oloniniyi","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53300","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Information from previous reports tend to suggest that drug use is associated with crime, particularly with homicide offences. Data on drug use among homicide offenders are scarce in Nigeria. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the relationship between psychoactive substance use and homicide. Method: All the 66 homicide offenders in a Nigerian prison and 66 matched control prisoners, charged for nonviolent offences were studied. Information on socio-demographic variables and drug use was obtained from all the respondents by interview. Results: Before imprisonment, the homicide offenders reported the use of alcohol, cannabis and stimulants with rates of 34.6%, 15.2% and 1.5% respectively. During imprisonment, lower rates of use were reported for these substances. These were 6.1% 1.5% and 6.1% respectively. The consolidated drug use rate among the non-violent prisoners (74.2%) was significantly higher than for the homicide defendants (53.0%), before imprisonment (p","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129671273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53305
M. Jidda, M. Wakil, A. O. Mohammed
Background: Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of mental disorders in the western world but viewed as an alien method of treatment to Africans. Aim: To review the literature on the effectiveness of psychotherapy in sub- Saharan Africa. Method: A systematic search of Medline, PsychINFO, CINHAL, were undertaken along with citation searches. In addition relevant text books and journals were searched for and used. Studies were selected if psychotherapy treatment in Africa were described in the title or abstract. Study quality was rated. Result: The search produced over 1261 articles; nine (9) met the inclusion criteria, four (4) were case reports, four (4) randomized controlled trials and one (1) quasi-experimental. Of the five (5) with relevant data four (4) revealed a positive outcome and, the need for some adaptation of the western model. Conclusion: High quality data examining the effectiveness of psychotherapy is quite sparse. However, the few quality data available revealed mostly positive outcome.
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Western Psychotherapy in treating Psychological Disorders among Subsaharan African Populations. A Systematic Review of the Literature","authors":"M. Jidda, M. Wakil, A. O. Mohammed","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53305","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of mental disorders in the western world but viewed as an alien method of treatment to Africans. Aim: To review the literature on the effectiveness of psychotherapy in sub- Saharan Africa. Method: A systematic search of Medline, PsychINFO, CINHAL, were undertaken along with citation searches. In addition relevant text books and journals were searched for and used. Studies were selected if psychotherapy treatment in Africa were described in the title or abstract. Study quality was rated. Result: The search produced over 1261 articles; nine (9) met the inclusion criteria, four (4) were case reports, four (4) randomized controlled trials and one (1) quasi-experimental. Of the five (5) with relevant data four (4) revealed a positive outcome and, the need for some adaptation of the western model. Conclusion: High quality data examining the effectiveness of psychotherapy is quite sparse. However, the few quality data available revealed mostly positive outcome.","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"43 3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134322919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53308
Zafrul Allam, K. Harish
Background: Job dissatisfaction and burn out are not an uncommon occurrences among hospital workers. The two phenomena may be related to each other and to demographic variables. Aim: The present investigation was planned to determine the influence of job burnout, sex, age and marital status on job satisfaction among medical personnel. Method: The sample consisted of 120 employees working in hospitals of Eritrea, Asmara, North East Africa, selected randomly. Job satisfaction scale developed by Singh (1987) and Maslach and Jackson (1981) job burnout inventory were administered to collect the data .The data were analyzed using means, standard deviations and students’ ‘t’ test. Result: The results revealed that (i) low job burnout employees showed greater degree of job satisfaction than high job burnout employees (ii) female medical personnel showed significantly greater degree of job satisfaction than male counterparts (iii) younger group of employees showed significantly higher level of job satisfaction than older employees and, (iv) married employees found significantly more job satisfaction than their unmarried counterparts. Conclusion: The study suggested that the improvement in opportunities to grow, salary and working conditions would help increase the level of job satisfaction of medical personnel. Key Words: Job Satisfaction; Job Burnout; Satisfier; Dissatisfiers, Eritrea
{"title":"Influence of Sociodemographic Factors on Job Burnout and Satisfaction among Eritrean Medical Workers.","authors":"Zafrul Allam, K. Harish","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53308","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Job dissatisfaction and burn out are not an uncommon occurrences among hospital workers. The two phenomena may be related to each other and to demographic variables. Aim: The present investigation was planned to determine the influence of job burnout, sex, age and marital status on job satisfaction among medical personnel. Method: The sample consisted of 120 employees working in hospitals of Eritrea, Asmara, North East Africa, selected randomly. Job satisfaction scale developed by Singh (1987) and Maslach and Jackson (1981) job burnout inventory were administered to collect the data .The data were analyzed using means, standard deviations and students’ ‘t’ test. Result: The results revealed that (i) low job burnout employees showed greater degree of job satisfaction than high job burnout employees (ii) female medical personnel showed significantly greater degree of job satisfaction than male counterparts (iii) younger group of employees showed significantly higher level of job satisfaction than older employees and, (iv) married employees found significantly more job satisfaction than their unmarried counterparts. Conclusion: The study suggested that the improvement in opportunities to grow, salary and working conditions would help increase the level of job satisfaction of medical personnel. Key Words: Job Satisfaction; Job Burnout; Satisfier; Dissatisfiers, Eritrea","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133881638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-04-01DOI: 10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53303
F. Fatoye, B. Eegunranti, G. K. Fatoye, G. Amoo, J. Omoaregba, O. Ibigbami
Background: Research on the sociodemographic, historical and forensic characteristics of homicide continue to attract the attention of mental health professionals in developing countries owing to the ongoing debate on the relationship between homicide offences and the presence of mental illness in perpetrators. This attention is partly due to the potential of these variables to be risk factors for homicide offences. There is a need to update available information in Nigeria. Aim: The study was carried out to evaluate socio-demographic and certain homicide- related characteristics of homicide defendants and to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and charge of homicide. Method: A questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic and homiciderelated items were administered on 66 homicide defendants at Ilesa prison, Nigeria. The socio-demographic questionaires were also administered on 66 other prisoners, as control. Results: The homicide offenders consisted of 63 (95.5%) males and 3 (4.5%) females. Most of them (78.8%) were less than 40years old. Most of the victims (72.7%) were males. In 81.8% of cases, the victims were known to the defendants. The commonest method of homicide was the use of sharp objects (27.3%) followed by the use of firearms (21.2%). Marital status, level of education and type of religion were not observed to be statistically different between the two groups. Even though, most respondents belong to less skilled occupational groups, the homicide defendants were significantly more represented in these groups and they were significantly more unemployed. Conclusion: The observations indicate that some level of restriction needs to be imposed on acquisition of dane-guns and call for concerted effort to tackle the interrelated problems of unemployment, poverty, and idleness in the society.
{"title":"Sociodemographic and Offence-related characteristics of Homicide Offenders in a Nigerian prison","authors":"F. Fatoye, B. Eegunranti, G. K. Fatoye, G. Amoo, J. Omoaregba, O. Ibigbami","doi":"10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/NJPSYC.V8I1.53303","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Research on the sociodemographic, historical and forensic characteristics of homicide continue to attract the attention of mental health professionals in developing countries owing to the ongoing debate on the relationship between homicide offences and the presence of mental illness in perpetrators. This attention is partly due to the potential of these variables to be risk factors for homicide offences. There is a need to update available information in Nigeria. Aim: The study was carried out to evaluate socio-demographic and certain homicide- related characteristics of homicide defendants and to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and charge of homicide. Method: A questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic and homiciderelated items were administered on 66 homicide defendants at Ilesa prison, Nigeria. The socio-demographic questionaires were also administered on 66 other prisoners, as control. Results: The homicide offenders consisted of 63 (95.5%) males and 3 (4.5%) females. Most of them (78.8%) were less than 40years old. Most of the victims (72.7%) were males. In 81.8% of cases, the victims were known to the defendants. The commonest method of homicide was the use of sharp objects (27.3%) followed by the use of firearms (21.2%). Marital status, level of education and type of religion were not observed to be statistically different between the two groups. Even though, most respondents belong to less skilled occupational groups, the homicide defendants were significantly more represented in these groups and they were significantly more unemployed. Conclusion: The observations indicate that some level of restriction needs to be imposed on acquisition of dane-guns and call for concerted effort to tackle the interrelated problems of unemployment, poverty, and idleness in the society.","PeriodicalId":422969,"journal":{"name":"Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128433836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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