Prevalence and Predictors of Relapse among Patients with Schizophrenia at Psychiatric Healthcare Institutions in North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nigerians with Schizophrenic disorder are experiencing multiple relapses during the course of the illness. Relapse is disabling and distressing, associated with progressive functional deterioration as well as worsening treatment response and clinical prognosis.
 Aim: Thestudy aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of relapse among patients with Schizophrenia in North-western Nigeria.
 Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed to conduct the study in Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna, Kano State Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau, and Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kware, Sokoto States. The Population of the study constitutes all patients with schizophrenia attending the outpatient units of the Hospitals with a sample size of 464 patients a crossed the facilities. A purposive sampling technique was used in the study to recruit respondents. Self -structure Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS Version 23 and presented using mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentages. Regression analysis was used at a 0.05 level of significance to determine predictors of relapse..
 Results: Findings revealed that from the year 2018 to 2020, the prevalence of relapse among patients with schizophrenia is very high in the year 2020 with 71% relapse in Kano state, 40% relapse in Sokoto state, and 14% relapse in Kaduna state. The study shows that co-morbid illness, stressful life events, and inadequate mental health services are predictors of relapse (p<0.05).
 Conclusion: The study concludes that personal, social, and health facility factors are predictors of relapse among patients with Schizophrenia in North-west Nigeria.
 Recommendations: Emotional and social support like halfway home, assertive community therapy, self -help groups should be provided to patients with schizophrenia, as these can play a vital role in their response to the ailment thereby reducing relapse and the prevalence of the disease.