Texila American University

Background: Nigeria has a teeming population of adolescents who experience a high incidence of violence: physical, sexual and verbal abuses. Despite this high prevalence, there is limited intervention designed to control violence. One key piece of information lacking is the cost evaluation of violence among adolescents. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the economic cost of violence among adolescents in Southeast Nigeria. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, conducted among adolescents in schools in Umuahia. A questionnaire administered during the interview was used to collect data. Data entered and analyzed using SPSS (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York, USA). Results: The mean medical cost of violence against adolescents was USD$19.4, and the mean lost productivity was USD$46.6. The mean total cost was USD$64.6. The annualized national cost of violence among adolescents was USD$1.4 billion. The households that experienced catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) were 48%. The 37 of urban dwellers (48.1%) and 26 of poor households (36.1%) experienced more CHE compared to the 35 of rural dwellers (47.9%) and the 11.1% of least poor households experienced CHE. The difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.011), and the concentration index was 0.23844. This signified that the cost of violence against adolescents was high and adversely affects main households. The national economic loss due to violence among adolescents was USD 715,497, 196:00. Conclusion: The high debilitating cost impact of violence among adolescents on the households, as well as the high negative cost impact on national productivity. The high annualized national cost of violence is far less than the cost of a major violence control intervention. Thus, it will be wiser to release a significantly smaller amount for control interventions.

Communicable diseases remain a major public health concern in Nigeria, especially among market traders who face daily exposure to infection risks. This study assessed the knowledge and practice of preventive measures against communicable diseases among traders in Anambra State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 285 traders selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered, and validated questionnaire. Analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at a 5% significance level. The respondents were predominantly between 25–44 years (mean age: 38±12 years), with males constituting 61.1%. Most were Christians (83.2%), married (47.7%), and educated up to the secondary level (39.3%). Awareness of communicable diseases was high (94.0%), with television (73.9%), friends (61.0%), and radio (60.7%) as major information sources. Although 91.3% knew about proper handwashing and 84.1% about environmental sanitation, only 7.4% demonstrated good knowledge. However, 88.8% practiced at least one preventive measure especially handwashing (90.5%) and body hygiene (71.5%). Poor practice was attributed to disbelief in preventive measures (61.1%) and ignorance (58.3%). Factors such as negligence (OR=0.380, p=0.038) and laziness (OR=0.308, p=0.025) significantly affected preventive practices. Marital status was significantly associated with practice levels (p=0.05), and males attended more health talks than females (p=0.004). Despite high awareness, there was a gap between knowledge and actual preventive practices, influenced by negligence, laziness, and misconceptions. Continuous health education, targeted seminars, and community-based interventions are recommended to improve compliance with preventive measures among traders.

The tendencies of inmates in Nigeria to relapse into crime or not after release from incarceration may be influenced by the attitude of correctional officers, which has been a hindrance to effective rehabilitation and reintegration of the inmates. This study investigated stakeholders' perspectives on correctional officers' attitudes as a perceived factor for recidivism in a maximum-security custodial centre in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a phenomenological research design. Thirteen criminal justice stakeholders from Enugu, Nigeria, were interviewed, including correctional officers, inmates, ex-inmates, legal professionals, police officers, and civil society organisation practitioners. The interviews were thematically analysed. Findings indicate that participants perceive negative attitudes among correctional officers, such as corruption, punitive practices and a lack of empathy, as undermining rehabilitation and possibly reinforcing reoffending tendencies. Positive attitudes, including empathy and support for inmates' welfare, were described as rare but important for encouraging behavioural change. Participants further linked these attitudes to structural challenges, such as poor remuneration, inadequate training, and institutional neglect. The study concludes that stakeholders view correctional officers’ attitudes as an important factor shaping rehabilitation outcomes. It recommends improved training, better welfare conditions, and strengthened accountability mechanisms to promote more rehabilitative practices in custodial centres.

Purpose: Zonisamide, an anticonvulsant with GABAergic and glutamatergic effects, has been investigated as a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), but its efficacy and tolerability remain uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials evaluating zonisamide for AUD. Procedures: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CENTRAL from inception through June 23, 2025, with an updated search on March 31, 2026, for randomized controlled trials comparing zonisamide to placebo in adults with AUD. The primary outcome was a reduction in alcohol use. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Findings: Five randomized controlled trials (N=344) met inclusion criteria. Zonisamide significantly reduced drinks per day (MD=−0.79; 95% CI=−0.95 to −0.63; P <0.001) and drinking days (MD=−7.93; 95% CI=−11.03 to −4.83; P <0.001). No significant effect was observed for heavy drinking days (MD=−0.95; 95% CI=−2.12 to 0.22; P =0.11), with high heterogeneity ( I ²=91%). Zonisamide was associated with a significantly lower rate of nervousness, anxiety, or irritability (RR=0.53; 95% CI=0.34-0.84; P =0.007); other adverse events did not differ from placebo. Implications: Zonisamide reduced drinks per day and drinking days but not heavy drinking days, suggesting a selective benefit on overall consumption. A protective effect on nervousness, anxiety, and irritability was also observed, consistent with zonisamide’s GABAergic mechanism. Further well-powered trials are needed to inform clinical recommendations.

Load shedding, defined as the scheduled interruption of electricity supply to balance electricity demand and generation capacity, has become a persistent challenge in Zambia, particularly following the severe drought conditions affecting hydroelectric power generation. While the economic and infrastructural consequences of load shedding are well documented, less attention has been given to its psychological and mental health implications. This study examined how load shedding affects mental health among Zambian residents, focusing on stress, sleep disruption, coping strategies, and socioeconomic vulnerability.