Background: Essential workers are imperative in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.Aim: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.Setting: This study was set in Ekiti State, Nigeria.Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving essential workers in Ekiti State Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. A total of 588 essential workers were sampled. Online socio-demographic variables and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a 14 item self-reported questionnaire were used.Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the respondents was 93.4% (CI = 91.2–95.2) and 64.3% (CI = 60.4–68.4) respectively. Among the health workers, the prevalence of anxiety and depression were 96.5% (CI =94.8–98.1) and 66.5% (CI = 60.5–69.8) respectively while the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among non- health workers were 84.6% (CI = 78.7–90.1) and 61.5% (CI = 54.2–69.4) respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms was increased among, respondents who were not satisfied with the support they received from the government during the pandemic (AOR = 2.071, CI = 1.350–2.213), respondents that were 35 years and younger (AOR = 1.512, CI = 1.033–2.213) and reduced amongst Christians (AOR = 0.501, CI = 0.286–0.879). The odd of anxiety was increased among health workers compared to non-health workers (AOR = 3.700, CI = 1.744–7.851) and the odds of anxiety was reduced among respondents with previous history of mental illness (AOR = 0.215, CI = 0.049–0.943).Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were common mental illness among essential workers working during the COVID-19 lockdown, therefore their mental health should be adequately considered to sustain the fight against the virus.

Background: Substance abuse is causing increasing threats to the stability of young minds, from teenage to the older youths and is an issue of public health concern in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional survey was carried out among students in tertiary institutions in Ekiti state with participants selected from Year 1 to Year 4. Data collection tool was the WHO questionnaire (STASSIS). Data was analysed to obtain descriptive and inferential data, Kruskal-Wallis test and chi square were used for analysis of variance and test of association. Result: The majority of the students reported low use of all the drugs (64-90.1%) though moderate to high use were reported for: alcohol 35.1%, marijuana 15.7%, heroine 15.3%, tobacco 13.8% and cocaine 10.2%. There was a significant association between student's moderate to high use and university type. Students in private universities reported more use, especially heroine. Difference in substance use across the four years surveyed was significant with final year students (400 level) showing highest use. Conclusion:Tertiary students in Ekiti state are low users of psychoactive substances with a prevalence of 60-91%. Moderate to high prevalence of 10-31% was reported with alcohol as the substance with highest usage. Substance use varied significantly with university type with highest prevalence in the private institution and students at different academic levels with final year students being the highest users.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic caused unexpected socio-economic changes globally. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with perceived stress among essential workers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ekiti State, Nigeria.Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study that involved 588 essential workers in Ekiti State, Nigeria during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Perceived Stress Scale was used in the study Chi-square test of statistical significance and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression were used in the analysis and the level of statistical significance was determined by a p-value of <0.05.Results: The prevalence of high perceived stress levels among all the respondents, health workers, and non-health workers were 64.1% (63.3-70.6), while health workers and non-health workers had a prevalence of 70.1% (65.5 -73.3) and 56.5% (23.5-38.7) respectively. The majority of the respondents related their sources of stress to inadequate transportation (63.3%), hearing of COVID related news (47.4%), and lack of finance (55.1%). Using Logistic Regression respondent respondents who were not satisfied with the support they received from the government during the pandemic had three fold high stress levels than respondents who were satisfied with the support received from the government [AOR= 3.228, (CI= 1.771- 5.886)]. Furthermore, the odd of the high stress level was one fold increased among male respondents than female respondents [AOR = 1.08 CI= (1.410-6.215). Conclusion: Stress management is recommended given the high-stress level among essential workers.   French title: Niveau de stress perçu chez les travailleurs essentiels pendant le casanier du COVID-19 dans l'état d'Ekiti, au Nigéria Contexte général de l'étude : La pandémie de COVID-19 a provoqué des changements socio-économiques inattendus dans le monde. Cette étude a déterminé la prévalence et les facteurs liés au stress perçu à un niveau parmi les travailleurs essentiels pendant la période de confinement du COVID-19 dans l'état d'Ekiti, au Nigéria.Méthode de l'étude : Une étude descriptive transversale qui a impliqué 588 travailleurs essentiels dans l'état d'Ekiti, au Nigéria, dans le cadre du confinement COVID-19. L'échelle de stress perçu a été utilisée dans le test du Chi carré de l'étude et une analyse multi variée a été utilisée. Le niveau statistiquement significatif a été déterminé par une valeur p < 0,05.Résultats de l'étude: Le total des répondants non-agents de santé et agents de santé présentait une prévalence de niveaux élevés de stress perçu de 64,1% (63,3-70,6), 56,5% (23,5-38,7) et 70,1% (65,5 - 73,3). La majorité des répondants ont lié leurs sources de stress à un transport inadéquat (63,3 %), à l'audition de nouvelles liées à COVID (47,4 %) et au manque de financement (55,1 %) En utilisant la régression logistique, les répondants qui étaient insatisfaits du soutien gouvernemental pendant la pandémie avaient des niveaux de stress trois fois plus élevés que les répondants qui étaient insatisfaits du soutien gouvernemental [AOR= 3.228, (IC= 1.771-5.886)]. De plus, l'impair du niveau de stress élevé était un fois plus élevé chez les hommes interrogés que chez les femmes [AOR = 1,08 IC = (1,410-6,215).Conclusion : La gestion du stress est recommandée étant donné le niveau de stress élevé chez les travailleurs essentiels.