International Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

41-46

Authors: Agboola A. A., Babalola E. O., Soyinka A. T., Ojo T. M. and Akinhanmi A. O.

There appears to be an increase in the use of atypical antipsychotics in the management of severe mental disorders in Nigeria. The metabolic and other side effects associated with their use are becoming major concern to both clinicians and service users. International guidelines required that their use be regulated by results of baseline and follow-up investigations. This audit aimed at determining the extent to which baseline and on going monitoring are carried out among patients attending the out-patients clinic at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. A retrospective survey was carried out at the general outpatient clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, a tertiary specialist institution in Nigeria. A pro-forma data extraction questionnaire was developed by the authors and used in obtaining information from the case notes of patients on atypical antipsychotics medication attending the out-patients clinic between January and December 2013. A total of 213 case-notes of patients on atypical antipsychotics were reviewed. Over half (55%) of the patients were commenced on atypical medication at their first contact with the hospital. Majority (51%) of the patients were on treatment for schizophrenia. Risperidone was the most prescribed atypical antipsychotics (86.4%). The level of compliance with baseline investigations and follow up investigations were poor. In conclusion, there is urgent need to improve on the level of baseline and on going monitoring of blood parameters among others on patients on atypical antipsychotics. This is more so in view of the likely metabolic and other side effects associated with the use of these medications.

50-55

Authors: Maha Al Turki, Sarah Al Shloi, Alhanouf Al Harbi, Alanoud Al Agil, Winnie Philip and Shoeb Qureshi

Evidence suggests that breakfast consumption can enhance cognitive and psychosocial function, academic performance, and school attendance of schoolchildren. Also, there is some evidence to suggest that children who frequently skip breakfast have a higher risk of being obese compared to those children that regularly consume breakfast. There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of this meal for school children. However, a limited number of researchers have explored the breakfast habits among Saudi young school children. We assessed breakfast consumption habits, food preferences and student perspectives concerning breakfast consumption among young Saudi female students living in Riyadh city. A cross-sectional study of 384 female primary school students was conducted in 2016. Four schools each from government and private sector, located in different zones of Riyadh were randomly selected for the study. Age, anthropometric measurements, health status of the students, and information regarding breakfast habits and preferred food choices were collected. Mean and standard deviation (SD) was used to present continuous data. Categorical data was presented in frequencies and percentages. To compare the difference in means, independent t-test was also used. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22) was used for the analysis of data. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Eighty-eight percent of schoolchildren reported that they consume breakfast, with only 2% having regular breakfast more than four days a week. The mean (±SD) age of those who consume breakfast was significantly lower than those who usually skipped breakfast. Milk and dairy products and/or carbohydrates were the preferred breakfast food choice of most schoolchildren. Although, only 12% of the schoolchildren in the sample reported not to consume breakfast, the majority of the rest of the students reported not to be frequent breakfast consumers (