Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-age children in Gaborone, Botswana: Comorbidity and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Its occurrence and pattern of presentation are unknown in Botswana. AIM: To determine the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), associated comorbid conditions and risk factors amongst school-age children in Botswana. SETTING: Primary schools in Gaborone, Botswana. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. A two-stage random sampling technique was utilised to select learners from 25 out of the 29 public schools in the city. The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS), teacher and parent versions, was administered. RESULTS: Of the 1737 children, 50.9% (n = 884) were male, and their mean age was 9.53 years (s.d. = 1.97). The prevalence of ADHD was 12.3% (n = 213). The most prevalent presentation was the predominantly inattentive, 7.2% (n = 125). A family history of mental illness (odds ratio [OR] = 6.59, 95% CI: 1.36-32.0) and perinatal complications (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.08-4.29) emerged as the independent predictors of ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ADHD in Botswana is slightly higher than that reported in the literature, but the pattern of presentations and comorbidities is similar. A positive family history of mental illness and perinatal complications independently predicted ADHD. Mental health screening amongst families of the affected individuals and improved perinatal care should be considered as health care priorities in Botswana.

Cannabis Use Disorder Among First-Year Undergraduate Students in Gaborone, Botswana.

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) poses major clinical and public health concerns globally. It is a growing problem among the youth in Botswana, yet little research has been done on this subject. The present study hoped to address this gap in knowledge by determining the prevalence and associated factors of CUD among first-year university students in Botswana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 first-year university undergraduates, using a modified version of the 37-item World Health Organization (WHO) drug questionnaire and DSM-5 criteria for CUD. The mean age of the respondents was 20.8 (SD = 1.5) years, and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Of the 401 students whose responses were analyzed, 37(9,2%) had used cannabis at least once in the last 12 months, but only 19 (4.7%) met the DSM-5 criteria for CUD. After binary regression analysis, difficulty in coping with the new environment/academic activities, receiving more than 150 USD monthly were positively associated with CUD, while regular participation in religious activities was negatively associated. CUD was found among the first-year undergraduates studied. Promoting protective activities such as religious activities and strengthening programs that teach students how to cope with academic stress and a new environment would be helpful.

Post-traumatic stress disorder among the staff of a mental health hospital: Prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Mental health service providers are frequently exposed to stress and violence in the line of duty. There is a dearth of data concerning the psychological sequelae of the frequent exposure to stress and violence, especially among those who work in resource-limited countries such as Botswana. AIM: To determine the prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among mental health workers in a tertiary mental health institute in Botswana. SETTING: The study was conducted in Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, which is the only referral psychiatric hospital in Botswana. METHODS: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 201 mental health workers completed a researcher-designed psycho-socio-demographic questionnaire, which included one neuroticism item of the Big Five Inventory, and a PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), which was used to assess symptoms of PTSD. RESULTS: Majority of the study participants were general nurses (n = 121, 60.5%) and females (n = 122, 60.7%). Thirty-seven (18.4%) of the participants met the criteria for PTSD. Exposure to violence in the past 12 months (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.49-7.16) and high neuroticism score (AOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.19-6.24) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of PTSD among the participants. CONCLUSION: Post-traumatic stress disorder could result from stressful events encountered in the course of managing patients in mental health institutes and departments. Pre-placement personality evaluation of health workers to be assigned to work in psychiatric units and post-incident trauma counselling of those exposed to violence may be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of PTSD in mental hospital health care workers.

Post-traumatic stress disorder among the staff of a mental health hospital: prevalence and risk factors

Background: Mental health service providers are frequently exposed to stress and violence in the line of duty. There is a dearth of data concerning the psychological sequelae of the frequent exposure to stress and violence, especially among those who work in resource-limited countries such as Botswana. Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among mental health workers in a tertiary mental health institute in Botswana. Setting: The study was conducted in Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, which is the only referral psychiatric hospital in Botswana. Methods: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 201 mental health workers completed a researcher-designed psycho-socio-demographic questionnaire, which included one neuroticism item of the Big Five Inventory, and a PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), which was used to assess symptoms of PTSD. Results: Majority of the study participants were general nurses (n = 121, 60.5%) and females (n= 122, 60.7%). Thirty-seven (18.4%) of the participants met the criteria for PTSD. Exposure to violence in the past 12 months (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.49­7.16) and high neuroticism score (AOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.19­6.24) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of PTSD among the participants. Conclusion: Post-traumatic stress disorder could result from stressful events encountered in the course of managing patients in mental health institutes and departments. Pre-placement personality evaluation of health workers to be assigned to work in psychiatric units and post-incident trauma counselling of those exposed to violence may be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of PTSD in mental hospital health care workers