title: An evaluation of psychological distress and social support of survivors and contacts of Ebola virus disease infection and their relatives in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross sectional study--2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By September 2014, an outbreak of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) in West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Nigeria, had recorded over 4500 and 2200 probable or confirmed cases and deaths respectively. EVD, an emerging infectious disease, can create fear and panic among patients, contacts and relatives, which could be a risk factor for psychological distress. Psychological distress among this subgroup could have public health implication for control of EVD, because of potential effects on patient management and contact tracing. We determined the Prevalence, pattern and factors associated with psychological distress among survivors and contacts of EVD and their relatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a descriptive cross sectional study, we used General Health Questionnaire to assess psychological distress and Oslo Social Support Scale to assess social support among 117 participants who survived EVD, listed as EVD contacts or their relatives at Ebola Emergency Operation Center in Lagos, Nigeria. Factors associated with psychological distress were determined using chi square/odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and standard deviation of participants was 34 +/ - 9.6 years. Of 117 participants, 78 (66.7%) were females, 77 (65.8%) had a tertiary education and 45 (38.5%) were health workers. Most frequently occurring psychological distress were inability to concentrate (37.6%) and loss of sleep over worry (33.3%). Losing a relation to EVD outbreak (OR = 6.0, 95% CI, 1.2-32.9) was significantly associated with feeling unhappy or depressed while being a health worker was protective (OR = 0.4, 95% CI, 0.2-0.9). Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) showed losing a relation (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI, 1.2-28.0) was a predictor of "feeling unhappy or depressed", loss of a relation (AOR = 10.1, 95% CI, 1.7-60.7) was a predictor of inability to concentrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survivors and contacts of EVD and their relations develop psychological distress. Development of psychological distress could be predicted by loss of family member. It is recommended that psychiatrists and other mental health specialists be part of case management teams. The clinical teams managing EVD patients should be trained on recognition of common psychological distress among patients. A mental health specialist should review contacts being monitored for EVD for psychological distress or disorders.
authors: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Kaduna, Barnawa, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. zizo922000@yahoo.com.
authors: Abdulaziz
authors: A
authors: Mohammed
authors: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Kaduna, Barnawa, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.|Department of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors: Taiwo Lateef
authors: TL
authors: Sheikh
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Saheed
authors: S
authors: Gidado
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Poggensee
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Nguku
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.|Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors: Adebola
authors: A
authors: Olayinka
authors: Nigerian Stop Polio Program (NSTOP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Chima
authors: C
authors: Ohuabunwo
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Ndadilnasiya
authors: N
authors: Waziri
authors: Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Faisal
authors: F
authors: Shuaib
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Adeyemi
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Ogbonna
authors: O
authors: Uzoma
authors: Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Abubakar
authors: A
authors: Ahmed
authors: Department of Medical Social Services, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Funmi
authors: F
authors: Doherty
authors: United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Sarah Beysolow
authors: SB
authors: Nyanti
authors: United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Charles Kyalo
authors: CK
authors: Nzuki
authors: Nigerian Center for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Abdulsalami
authors: A
authors: Nasidi
authors: Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors: Akin
authors: A
authors: Oyemakinde
authors: Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Olukayode
authors: O
authors: Oguntimehin
authors: Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Ismail Adeshina
authors: IA
authors: Abdus-Salam
authors: Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: Reginald O
authors: RO
authors: Obiako
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult