Autism Spectrum Disorders in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Literature and Opinion on Future Research and Social Policy Directions.

Introduction: Research about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in sub-Saharan Africa is sparse and limited. However, research studies coming from Nigeria in West Africa as a country have contributed significantly to the subject of ASD in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods And Results: This study is a scoping review of research literature on ASD in Nigeria through June 2017 conducted by searching the key terms autism and Nigeria on PubMed and Google Scholar.

Improving access to interventions among mothers screened positive for post-partum depression (PPD) at National Programme on Immunization (NPI) clinics in south-western and south-eastern Nigeria - A service development report.

We investigate the possibility of improving access to interventions among mothers screened positive for post-partum depression (PPD) at National Programme on Immunization (NPI) clinics randomly selected from Lagos and Enugu States in south-western and south-eastern Nigeria respectively. The principle of human centred design was employed by engaging the mothers screened positive for PPD to be part of the decision making regarding their further assessment and intervention services. The study brought intervention services to primary healthcare centre at the NPI clinics.

Feasibility of parent-mediated behavioural intervention for behavioural problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Nigeria: a pilot study.

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a disabling and lifelong neuro-developmental disorder. Challenging behaviours such as aggression and self injury are common maladaptive behaviours in ASD which adversely affect the mental health of both the affected children and their caregivers. Although there is evidence-base for parent-delivered behavioural intervention for children with ASD and challenging behaviours, there is no published research on the feasibility of such an intervention in sub-Saharan Africa.

Neurodevelopmental delay among children under the age of three years at immunization clinics in Lagos State, Nigeria - Preliminary report.

Late diagnosis and interventions characterize childhood neurodevelopmental disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. This has negatively impacted on the prognosis of the children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This study examined the prevalence and pattern of neurodevelopmental delays among children under the age of 3 years attending immunization clinics in Lagos State, Nigeria and also affords opportunity of early follow-up and interventions, which had been documented to improve prognosis.

Perception of service satisfaction and quality of life of patients living with schizophrenia in Lagos, Nigeria.

Objective: To assess service-satisfaction and quality of life among patients with schizophrenia in a tertiary psychiatric healthcare facility in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 101 (out of 120) patients diagnosed with schizophrenia attending the outpatient clinic of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis (SCID), Charleston Psychiatric Out-patient Scale (CPOSS), and the World-Health Organisation Quality of Life -Bref scale (WHOQOL-BREF) was used in assessing diagnosis, patient satisfaction and subjective quality of life respectively.

Public health and research funding for childhood neurodevelopmental disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa: a time to balance priorities.

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) population consists of about 45% children, while in Europe and North America children population is 10-15%. Lately, attention has been directed at mitigating childhood infectious and communicable diseases to reduce under-five mortality. As the under-five mortality index in Sub-Saharan Africa has relatively improved over the last two decades, more Sub-Saharan African children are surviving beyond the age of five and, apparently, a sizeable percentage of this population would be living with one or more childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).

Improving treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder in low- and middle-income countries: the role of non-specialist care providers.

Mashudat Bello-Mojeed and Muideen O. Bakare discuss the unmet challenges in care of children with autism spectrum disorders in low- and middle-income countries.

Factors associated with caregiver burden in a child and adolescent psychiatric facility in Lagos, Nigeria: a descriptive cross sectional study.

Background: Definitions of burden of care stress the effect of the patient's mental illness on the family. There are generally very few studies in this environment on caregiver burden in child/adolescent mental ill-health. This study aimed to identify patient and caregiver characteristics that are associated with caregiver burden.

A comparison of the prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and comorbidities among adolescents in the United States of America and Nigeria.

Study Objective: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) often starts in adolescence, but there are limited data on its prevalence. The specific aims of this study were to (1) describe the prevalence of PMDD in adolescents presenting to clinics in the midwestern United States and 2 Nigerian cities, (2) identify cultural differences, and (3) screen for comorbidities.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescents attending outpatient clinics in the 3 sites.

Prevalence and correlates of poor medication adherence amongst psychiatric outpatients in southwestern Nigeria.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the rate of adherence to medications amongst psychiatric outpatients in Nigeria and examine factors associated with medication nonadherence amongst this group.

Method: Psychiatric outpatients (n=342) from three centres were assessed for medication adherence using the Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Details regarding sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, religion, marital status, employment, income, medication cost), illness related variables (diagnosis, duration, number of episodes/admissions, insight, severity of symptoms, mental state, functional status), medication related variables (type, mode of administration, side effect, attitude to medication) and perception related variables (self-stigma, perceived causation and prognosis) were also obtained.