Substance use has become one of the growing major public health and socioeconomic issues worldwide; it has dramatically increased, particularly in developing countries. [1-3] The analysis of substance use is complex, due in part to its varieties, degree of secrecy, health challenges and different legal connotations surrounding its use globally. The use of khat (Catha edulis), cigarettes, heroine, alcohol and other substances is a worldwide threat which especially affects young people. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are about 2 billion people worldwide who consume alcoholic beverages, of whom 76.3 million are affected by alcohol-related disorders. [4-8] It is estimated that 9% of the global population aged ≥12 years are classified as dependent on psychoactive substances. [9] Studies have confirmed that there is a growing epidemic of tobacco, heroine and alcohol use among adolescents in the developing world, especially in southern Africa and in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. [6,10-12] Khat has been used in African countries for centuries as a mild stimulant. For most youths, chewing khat is considered a method for increasing energy and elevating mood in order to improve work performance. [13] The WHO report on substance use in southern Africa showed that negative consequences are common traits of substance use. [3,14] These include sexual violence (e.g. rape), physical violence, criminal activity, neglect of social responsibilities, disease, injury and loss of life. Harmful effects occur with any psychoactive substance use and early initiation has been found to be associated with an increased risk of developing addiction and adulthood dependence. [3,15] In general, it has been shown that the use of cigarettes, alcohol and other substances is a worldwide threat that affects young people. [3,16] In some parts of Ethiopia, such as Bale and Harar, khat chewing in communities in which smoking is common is seen as a social custom that dates back thousands of years. Many students also consider khat chewing as a method of improving their reading ability. However, no activity has been seen in the reduction of substance use. [17,18] While substance use is not new in research parlance, [1] the high level of ingenuity among young people (especially adolescents) that has resulted in numerous complex mixtures, experimentation and discoveries of new materials and volatile solvents (or inhalants) that can be drunk or inhaled with immediate intoxicating effect or other diverse consequences, [11] could make continuous research on this menace relevant. The prevalence of substance use varies from country to country and time to time. Regular updates on substance use and its associated factors could therefore hold significant input regarding appropriate and dynamic interventions towards reduction or eradication of substance use among adolescents, not only in southern Africa but also worldwide. [19,20] The present study therefore aims to assess the prevalence of substance use among adolescent in sub-Saharan Afri...

AIM: The study examined the coping strategies among ever-married women with breast cancer in disrupted marriages (divorced, separated, or living-alone ever-married women) who also have limited access to social support. METHODS: Data for the study were extracted from 2015 behavioral risk factors for breast and cervical cancers in two states of Nigeria. Respondents for the study were identified through three approaches: (1) Self-reported disclosure of breast cancer, (2) informant-leading approach, and (3) outpatients located in oncological specialized health facilities and herbal homes. Formal approval was sought from the management of selected health facilities and community leaders. The respondents also voluntarily shared their experiences after obtaining their informed consent. Textual data obtained from a total of nine breast cancer survivors and patients identified and interviewed were analyzed for this study, using framework and content analytic procedures. The results were presented as excerpts and in themes. RESULTS: Results revealed two categories of respondents: (1) Breast cancer survivors/patients with husband and (2) those without husbands. Common perspectives were regrets, loss of intimacy, and determination to survive. Basic coping strategies identified are seeking medical support, resignation to fate, and involvement in religion activities. The study concludes that a partner’s support was a great yearning for survivors/patients. CONCLUSION: The authors recommended counseling on partner’s assistance among spouses, especially during sicknesses and diseases. It is also important to raise awareness of the risk factors of breast cancer and the need for constant check-ups among women in the study locations, and by extension, other sub-Saharan African countries.

Background. The reports and information on coronavirus are not conspicuously emphasising the possible impact of population density on the explanation of difference in rapid spread and fatality due to the disease and not much has been done on bicountry comparisons. Objective. The study examined the impact of population density on the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in two sociodemographic divergent countries. Methods. The study conducted a scoping review of published and unpublished articles including blogs on incidences and fatalities of COVID-19. The analysis followed qualitative description and quantitative presentation of the findings using only frequency distribution, percentages, and graphs. Results. The two countries shared similar experience of “importation” of COVID-19, but while different states ordered partial lockdown in Nigeria, it was an immediate total lockdown in Italy. The physician/patient ratio is high in Italy (1 : 328) but low in Nigeria (1 : 2500), while population density is 221 in Nigeria and 206 in Italy. Daily change in incidence rate reduced to below 20% after 51 and 30 days of COVID-19 first incidence in Italy and Nigeria, respectively. Fatality rate has plummeted to below 10% after the 66th day in Italy but has not been stabilised in Nigeria. Conclusion. The authors upheld both governments’ recommending measures that tilted towards personal hand-hygienic practices and social distancing. Authors suggested that if Italy with its high physician/patient ratio and lower population density compared to Nigeria could suffer high fatality from COVID-19 pandemic under four weeks, then Nigeria with its low physician/patient ratio and higher population density should prepare to face harder time if the pandemic persists.

Background: Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has reported relatively high levels of alcohol misuse, yet limited resources to guide effective population-wide response. There is a need to integrate existing empirical information in order to increase the power and precision of estimating epidemiological evidence necessary for informing policies and developing prevention programs. Objectives: We aimed to estimate nationwide and zonal prevalence of harmful use of alcohol in Nigeria to inform public health policy and planning. Methods: Epidemiologic reports on alcohol use in Nigeria from 1990 through 2018 were systematically searched and abstracted. We employed random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression model to determine the number of harmful alcohol users. Results: 35 studies (n=37,576 Nigerians) were identified. Pooled crude prevalence of harmful use of alcohol was 34.3% (95% CI: 28.6-40.1); twice as high among men (43.9%, 31.1-56.8) compared to women (23.9%, 16.4-31.4). Harmful alcohol use was higher in rural settings (40.1%, 24.2-56.1) compared to urban settings (31.2%, 22.9-39.6). The number of harmful alcohol users aged ≥ 15 years increased from 24 to 34 million from 1995 to 2015. However, actual age-adjusted prevalence of harmful use of alcohol in Nigeria decreased from 38.5% to 32.6% over the twenty-year period. Conclusions: While the prevalence of the total population that drinks harmfully appears to be dropping, absolute number of individuals that would be classified as harmful drinkers is increasing. This finding highlights the complexity of identifying and advocating for substance abuse policies in rapidly changing demographic settings common in Africa, Asia, and other developing countries.

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