Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Risk Behaviour among Jamaican Adolescents

Alcohol consumption has significant health, social and economic implications. Alcohol is the most prevalent psychoactive substance used by Jamaican adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine whether alcohol is associated with sexual risk behaviour among Jamaican adolescents. Methods: The data from National Secondary School Survey (NSS) conducted in 2013 was analysed. Descriptive statistics consisting of frequencies, percentages and Pearson's Chi square was done. Multivariate analysis was done using binary logistic regression. Result: The mean age of alcohol initiation among the participants was 12.3years [SD: 2.74]. There were significant associations between gender (X2= 14.56; p= 0.000), relationship with father/guardian (X2: 10.71; P= 0.03), relationship with mother (X2= 15.16; P= 0.004) and conversation with parents/ guardians about dangers of drug abuse (X2= 8.16; P=0.004). Adolescents who were males (AOR= 0.62, 95% CI= 0.43 - 0.88), in the 8th grade (AOR= 0.51, 95% CI= 0.26 - 0.98) or in the 10th grade (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.85) were less likely to engage in sexual risk behaviour. Lifetime alcohol consumption, past year alcohol consumption and past month alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with sexual risk behaviour (AOR= 0.35, 95% CI= 0.04 - 3.46; AOR= 1.75, 95% CI= 0.59 - 5.09, AOR= 0.78 95% CI= 0.56 - 1.11 respectively). Conclusion: Lifetime, past one year and past one month alcohol consumption among the students were not risk factors for sexual risk behavior (non-condom use) among Jamaican adolescents.

A community-based case-control study of prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairments in patients with epilepsy residing in South-Eastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is the commonest neurological disorder encountered in Sub-Saharan Africa. The quality of life of patients with epilepsy (PWEs) is adversely affected by cognitive impairments. AIM: This study investigated the prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairments in PWE in Ukpo community located in a South-Eastern state in Nigeria using Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) and a computer-assisted cognitive test battery (FePsy). METHODS AND PATIENTS: Fifty-one PWEs were studied and compared with 51 age-, sex-and level of education-matched healthy controls. Diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed clinically with eye-witness corroboration. Sociodemographic data and information on epilepsy variables were obtained with the aid of a questionnaire. Cognitive domains assessed include language, memory, orientation, attention, psychomotor speed and constructional praxis. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment using total CSID score was 19.6%. Analysis of CSID scores revealed significant impairment in language (17.6%), memory (29.4%), orientation (15.7%), attention (7.8%) and constructional praxis (15.7%) compared to healthy controls. A similar pattern was observed with FePsy but with better sensitivity indices for detecting cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: This study indicated significant prevalence rate of cognitive impairment among treatment-naïve PWE with profound affectation of memory, mental speed and language. In addition, the FePsy was found to be more sensitive and specific in assessment of cognitive function in PWE.

Medical students - self-assessed confidence level before a major physiology examination: affective factors in a nigerian medical school.

Self-reported confidence before any examination in all levels of medical training is a product of previous experience, attitudinal inclinations overtime, degree of self subjection to tenets of professionalism and possibly, the inadvertent role of the medical school environment including colleagues, teachers and faculty members, comfort, satisfaction and psychosocial stability; which may be addressed as sub-factors that determine the level of preparedness. Let medical schools in Nigeria; adopt a continuous and regular assessment of students' self confidence before any minor or major examination, to monitor and ensure a certain psychological and academic level of preparedness among the students. This will avoid some cases of attrition resulting from self-doubt and lack of preparedness.