West African journal of medicine最新文献

{"title":"Prevalence and Predictors of Blood Pressure Control in Pre-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Calabar, South-South Nigeria: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"H O Okpa, O E Enang, E M Bisong, E E Effa, D E Otokpa, P N Mbu, U E Edadi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension is both an important cause and complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the reduction in renal function is typically associated with increases in blood pressure.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, associated factors and predictors of blood pressure control in CKD patients before initiation of maintenance haemodialysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross - sectional study was conducted in the renal clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from September 2020 to February 2021. Chronic kidney disease patients yet to initiate maintenance haemodialysis were recruited consecutively and a total of 59 CKD patients were included in the study. Relevant investigations were done, including serum creatinine. An average of the three most recent clinic blood pressure (BP) readings taken at one month interval from each other was recorded. All data generated were analysed using SPSS version 20.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were more males (54.2%), majority were in stage 5 CKD (44.1%) and 62.7% had poor BP control. Poor BP control was associated with use of multiple anti-hypertensive medications and dyslipidemia. Elevated lipid profile predicted poor BP control (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Factors associated with poor BP control were use of multiple anti-hypertensive medications and presence of dyslipidemia. Furthermore, poor BP control was predicted by elevated lipid profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 2","pages":"101-107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149225085","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}

{"title":"Effect of the BATHE Technique on Quality of Life in Adults with HIV/AIDS in Northern Nigeria.","authors":"T T Ogunyele, B A Grema, A I Haruna, A L Olawumi, Z Abdulkadir, F M Damagum, A I Umar, H Y Magaji","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Advancements in HIV/AIDS treatment have transformed the condition into a manageable chronic disease with improved life expectancy. However, increased survival does not always guarantee better quality of life (QoL). Psychosocial interventions, such as the BATHE technique, offer a structured approach to addressing emotional and social challenges in routine care. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the BATHE technique on the QoL of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), an area with limited empirical evidence, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 78 adults PLWH attending the outpatient HIV clinic. The participants were randomized into intervention and control groups. While all participants received standard care, the intervention group received an additional three sessions of the BATHE counselling technique at six-week intervals. Quality of life was evaluated using the WHO Quality of Life Brief (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) instrument, with assessments conducted at baseline and after 18 weeks. Independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test were used for data analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline characteristics and QoL scores were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Post-intervention, the BATHE group had higher mean QoL scores across all domains, but differences were not statistically significant (overall QoL: 14.59 ± 4.02 vs 13.16 ± 4.45; p = 0.147), and no significant difference was observed within-group changes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although QoL scores improved in the intervention group, the differences were not statistically significant. Future studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to clarify the role of BATHE in HIV care.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 2","pages":"113-119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149225081","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}

{"title":"Socio-Demographic, Economic Factors, and Antibiotic Self-Medication among Residents of Rivers State in South-South, Nigeria.","authors":"N O Nnadi, J Ikurayeke, I G Amaechi, N P Dienye, F A Olaniyan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Self-medication with antibiotics is a threat to global health and is becoming increasingly observed in both developed and developing countries with prevalence of 32.5 - 81.5% worldwide. This study assessed the socio-demographic, economic factors and use of antibiotic self-medication among dwellers in River State, South-south, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study among 250 patients who attended the Family Medicine Clinic at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Chi-Square test was used to assess the association between socio-demographic and economic characteristics with antibiotic self-medication. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Majority of the respondents were females (65.2%), were within the age group of 20-39 years (59.2%) and had tertiary level of education (64.0%), while about 2.8% had no formal education. The overall prevalence of antibiotic self-medication was 75.2%, males (81.6%) self-medicated more than the females (71.8%) and all the respondents with no formal education (100%) practiced self-medication. The association between self-medication and educational status was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.004. The antibiotic most frequently used for self-medication in this study was Ampiclox (Ampicillin plus Cloxacillin) -an antibiotic class of the Penicillin.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Self-medication with antibiotics is still prevalent and was associated with a person's educational level. There is need for tailored educational programs to advocate for appropriate antibiotic utilization to mitigate this prevalent misuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"14-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148006976","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}

{"title":"Posterior Urethral Valves at the University College Hospital Ibadan: A Seven-Year Review.","authors":"A D Ademola, A O Asinobi, D I Olulana, A O Takure, S A Adebayo, M A Alao, O O Tongo, A I Ayede, J A Akinmoladun, P T Adenigba, R B Olatunji, T A Lawal, T A Lawal, O O Ogundoyin, E O Olapade-Olaopa, O B Shittu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Posterior urethral valve (PUV) is the most common severe obstructive uropathy in boys. We reviewed patients with PUV in our hospital to provide an update on the presentation, management and outcome of PUV in our setting.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A retrospective study of patients with PUV admitted in our hospital between January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-one patients were included, seven (median age 6.4 IQR 2.3, 10.8 years) had undergone valve ablation before presentation, while 44 (median age 1.3 IQR 0.1, 2.9 years) had not. Among the 44, four (9.1%) had abnormal features on antenatal ultrasound. 15.9% and 56.9% presented in the neonatal period and after one year of age respectively. The main complaints were voiding symptoms (45.5%), abdominal swelling (40.9%) and history of fever (38.6%). Wasting occurred in 43.9%. Serum creatinine ranged from 0.2-25.5 (median 1.4, IQR 0.8-3.0) mg/dl. Thiry seven children underwent valve ablation. Additionally, four of the 51 patients underwent repeat valve ablation. End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) occurred in five (9.8%). Dialysis was carried out in six patients (11.7%) including two patients with acute kidney injury. None underwent kidney transplantation. Mortality occurred in 10 (19.6%) and was due to sepsis (n=5) and ESKD (n= 4).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Posterior urethral valve is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in low resource settings and has 19.6% mortality in our centre over a 7-year period. Enhanced access to antenatal detection, early diagnosis and treatment, and kidney transplantation have the potential to improve outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"5-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148006962","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}

{"title":"Multicentric Castleman Disease Initially Diagnosed as Disseminated Tuberculosis in an Adolescent Boy in Sokoto, Nigeria.","authors":"K O Isezuo, Y Mohammed, U M Waziri, U M Sani, T A Raji, F I Abubakar, A Salihu, A M Na'uzo, I C Udah, F Emetumah, S Ado, A Adamu, Memunat Omar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative clinicopathological entity characterized by non-neoplastic lymph node hypertrophy with distinct histopathology. It has a wide spectrum of presentation ranging from benign localized unicentric CD to idiopathic multicentric CD and human herpes virus (HHV) associated disease which are potentially life-threatening. Treatment includes steroids, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It has not been reported in Nigerian children.</p><p><strong>Case summary: </strong>A 13-year-old boy presented with fever and body swelling of four weeks, cough of one week and difficulty in breathing of three days duration. On examination he was acute on chronically ill-looking, in respiratory distress, with significant generalized lymphadenopathy, bilateral pedal oedema and hepatosplenomegaly. Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) and lymphoproliferative disease were considered. He had leucocytosis with predominant neutrophils, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and inflammatory cells on bone marrow cytology. GeneXpert and retroviral screen were negative. Chest X-ray showed mediastinal shadows. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed hypoechoic lobulated masses with branching margins. Lymph node biopsy showed encapsulated lymphoid tissue composed of proliferating large-sized atretic lymphoid follicles with expanded mantle zones and lymphocytes arranged in strata giving an onion-skin appearance characteristic of CD. HHV was not excluded. Caregivers were counselled on chemotherapy but defaulted.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CD is rare but presents similarly to disseminated TB or lymphoma clinically. Efforts and provisions should be made for early histological diagnosis in suspected cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"77-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017593","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}

{"title":"The Ibadan Chronic Heart Failure Project: Baseline Clinical Profile, Management, and Six-Month Outcomes of the First 1,290 Participants.","authors":"O S Ogah, O A Orimolade, A S Oguntade, C L Anyikwa, C M Ogah, F Adepoju, A Aje, O M Adebayo, A A Adebiyi, A M Adeoye, O O Oladapo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic heart failure is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality across sub-Saharan Africa, yet contemporary data from large African cohorts remain limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To characterise the clinical profile, management, and short-term outcomes of patients with chronic HF enrolled in the Ibadan Heart Failure Project.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Ibadan Heart Failure Project is a real-life, pragmatic, prospective, hospital-based cohort of adults with chronic heart failure being conducted at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The present report is based on participants recruited between September 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. Baseline sociodemographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were obtained, and participants were followed for six months. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and hospital readmission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 1,290 patients (mean age 56.7 ± 15.4 years; 55.8% men), hypertensive heart disease was the leading cause, followed by dilated cardiomyopathy and rheumatic heart disease. Women were younger and more likely to have preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction. The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (3.3%) was low. The cumulative incidence of readmission, death, and a composite of these events at six months was 4.9%, 12.9%, and 17.8%, respectively. The use of beta blockers was associated with 43% reduction in the risk of readmission (HR-0.57, 95%CI-0.33-0.97), while the use of renin -angiotensin-aldosterone axis inhibitors was associated with 62% and 46% reduction in the risk of death and composite of readmission and death, respectively. A unit increase in serum creatinine is associated with 11% and 32% increase in readmission and death, respectively (HR-1.11, 95%CI-1.00-1.23 and HR-1.32, 95% CI-1.21-1.45, respectively) In addition, a unit increase in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is associated 64% and 53% lower risk of death and composite of readmission and death, respectively. (HR-0.36, 95%CI-0.22-0.60, HR-0.47, 95%CI-0.30-0.73 respectively). No significant sex or age-related differences were observed in adjusted risks of hospitalization or death.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hypertensive heart disease remains the predominant cause of chronic heart failure in Nigeria. Despite similar short-term outcomes across sexes, suboptimal use of newer evidence-based therapies underscores the need for system-level interventions to improve HF care in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"58-69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017586","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}

{"title":"Patients' Satisfaction with Healthcare Services in a Tertiary Healthcare Facility, North-Central, Nigeria.","authors":"C S S Bello, P Eseigbe, A Elisha, A A G Chima","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patient satisfaction is the extent to which a healthcare facility fulfils patients' expectations. It is a critical and integral part of patient-oriented healthcare, serving as a key indicator for measuring the quality of care provided to patients. Assessing patients' satisfaction with care is a way of obtaining feedback from patients, which can be a measure of the effectiveness of healthcare services. This study aimed to assess the level of patient satisfaction with services received at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, to improve healthcare services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH). The BHUTH is a private tertiary hospital located in Plateau State's capital city of Jos, the North-central region of Nigeria. Participants were selected conveniently from the outpatient clinics and wards. The data was collected using the Long-form Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-III) and included the participants' sociodemographic characteristics. There are seven domains in the PSQ-III, namely General satisfaction, Technical quality, Interpersonal care, Communication, Financial aspects, Time spent with the doctor, and Access/availability/convenience. Data collected was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 27.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 236 respondents. A little more than half (51.7%) of the patients were in the 18 - 39 years age group, and more (59.7%) were females. A majority (62.7%) of the responders had attained a tertiary level of education. The overall patient satisfaction rate was 67.6%. Only 52.5% of patients reported having a high general satisfaction, 56.4% were highly satisfied with the financial aspects of healthcare services, and 86.0% had high satisfaction with the communication.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study has revealed an overall average patient satisfaction. Among the domains of satisfaction assessed, communication had the highest rate of satisfaction, and the financial aspect of healthcare services was among the lowest rates of patient satisfaction. These findings can help prioritize strategies for improving healthcare services.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"29-34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017619","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}

{"title":"Optimising Asthma Control in a Sub-Saharan African Population: Assessing Agreement among Five Standardized Questionnaires.","authors":"F M Kehinde, O Awopeju, O O Adewole, M Afolabi, T Adejuyigbe, B Adeniyi, G E Erhabor","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Asthma management prioritises symptom control, typically assessed using standardized questionnaires. However, comparative data on their performance and agreement remain scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a cross-sectional study of 100 adults [79% females, mean age 38.1±14.6 years] with physician-diagnosed asthma at a Nigerian tertiary hospital, asthma control was evaluated using Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-7), Royal Society of Physicians 3 Questions (RCP-3Qs) and Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ). Agreement was measured with Cohen's kappa statistics. Diagnostic accuracy for GINA-defined well-controlled asthma was analysed using ROC-derived thresholds, with GINA serving as the reference standard to assess the performance of ACT, ACQ, RCP-3Qs, and ATAQ.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The level of controlled asthma ranged from 73% to 83% across tools. Agreement among control tools was low; GINA showed slight agreement with others (κ = 0.018-0.107), while ACT and ACQ had moderate agreement (κ = 0.546). ACT, ACQ, and RCP-3Qs demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy for identifying GINA-defined well-controlled asthma (AUC 0.90; 95% CI: ACT 0.76-0.95; ACQ 0.75-0.94; RCP-3Qs 0.78-0.92), whereas ATAQ performed poorly (AUC 0.5; 95% CI: 0.29-0.59). At pre-specified thresholds of >20, ≤1.57, ≤1 and 0.5, the specificity of ACT, ACQ, RCP-3Qs, and ATAQ was 92.6%, 70.4%, 70.4%, and 85.2%, respectively; while sensitivity was 73.7%, 94.7%, 100%, and 26.3%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ACT, ACQ, and RCP-3Q effectively identified GINA-defined well-controlled asthma, while ATAQ showed poor diagnostic value. Low agreement among the tools suggests they are not interchangeable for assessing asthma control.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"35-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017642","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}

{"title":"Risk Factors for Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Admission and In-hospital Mortality among Paediatric Emergencies in Nigeria: A Single Centre Study.","authors":"A Akindolire, B Adebayo, A Fagbohun, O Folayan, O Ashubu, O Robert, O Tongo, J H Lee","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Nigeria, the burden of critical illness and risk factors for mortality remains poorly described. This study describes the epidemiology of patients admitted at the children's emergency ward (EW) and risk factors for Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and in-hospital mortality (IHM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a retrospective study of patients admitted to the Children's EW of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, from 1st December 2022 to 30th November 2023. Patient's demographics, presenting clinical features and diagnosis at admission were extracted. The primary outcome was PICU admission. Secondary outcomes were duration of hospital stay and IHM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 649 patients; 421(64.9%) were <5 years old. Median age was 2.3 (interquartile range 0.8-7.0) years. Most common presenting features were dyspnoea [269 (41.4%)], vomiting [182 (28%)] and hypoxaemia [188 (29%)]. At presentation, 51 (7.9%) and 63 (10.3%) had altered mental status and seizures, respectively, while the most common diagnoses were sepsis [250 (39%)], malaria [192 (30%)], and pneumonia [165(26%)]. At presentation, 217 (33.5%), 110 (16.9%), 48 (7.4%), and 32 (4.9%) required oxygen, blood transfusion, fluid bolus, and inotropes, respectively. Twenty (3.1%) patients required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and 101 (15.6%) required PICU admission. Median duration of hospital stay was 5 (interquartile range 3-9) days, while IHM was 74 (6.6%) patients. On bivariate analysis, gender, dehydration, breathlessness, dyspnoea, cyanosis, cold extremities, thready pulses and altered mental state were associated with mortality, while breathlessness, hypoxaemia, dyspnoea, dehydration, cyanosis, thready pulses, cold extremities, convulsion and altered mental status were associated with PICU admission.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Shock state and hypoxaemia were associated with poor outcomes in paediatric emergencies. The introduction of basic critical care services will reduce the burden of adverse outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"22-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017647","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}

{"title":"Whispers from a Hollow Place: Caregiver Experiences Following Childhood Cancer Survival in Lagos State: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"A M Akinsete, U O Fakile, O Adisa, B O James, A O Joseph, A Damola-Okesiji, B Quadri, K Akindele, E O Temiye","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As childhood cancer survival improves globally, increasing attention is directed toward the emotional and social challenges faced by families, especially caregivers. However, in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria, caregivers' coping experiences remain underexplored despite extensive documentation in high-income settings.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore the psychosocial and health-related experiences of caregivers of childhood cancer survivors after treatment completion in Lagos, Nigeria, focusing on their coping strategies, emotional responses, and perceived family impact.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive design was employed, with 15 caregivers of childhood cancer survivors recruited through purposive sampling. Data collection combined semi-structured focus group discussions with standardized assessments, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis revealed three key themes: (1) Physical Consequences, including loss of employment, reduced work efficiency, and financial hardship; (2) Emotional Strain, marked by symptoms of PTSD, feelings of helplessness, and anxiety about potential relapses; and (3) Social Adjustments, such as improved health-seeking behaviours and stronger family relationships. Among participants, 60% demonstrated high levels of resilience, while 73% showed signs of anxiety, and the same proportion exhibited PTSD-related symptoms. All three male caregivers reported experiencing PTSD symptoms.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Caregivers of childhood cancer survivors in Lagos experience notable physical and emotional strain, including symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. Despite minimal formal support, many adapt through strengthened family ties, improved health practices, and spiritual traditions. These results suggest a need for culturally sensitive, caregiver-focused support within survivorship care. Further research should guide the development of targeted interventions in low-resource settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Caregivers of childhood cancer survivors in Lagos continue to experience significant psychosocial burdens beyond active treatment. There is an urgent need for structured psychosocial support integrated into survivorship care plans, especially in LMIC contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23680,"journal":{"name":"West African journal of medicine","volume":"43 1","pages":"53-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017652","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}