Lessons of Hope and Resilience: A Co-Produced Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Youth Living with Psychosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Haleem Abdurahman, Olubukola Omobowale, Olayinka Aturu, Adeola Afolayan, Olusegun Ogunmola, Bisola Fasoranti, Mayowa Olusanmi, Rita Tamambang, Olayinka Bamidele, Grace Ryan, Thomas Shakespeare, Julian Eaton, Olayinka Omigbodun, Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Haleem Abdurahman, Olubukola Omobowale, Olayinka Aturu, Adeola Afolayan, Olusegun Ogunmola, Bisola Fasoranti, Mayowa Olusanmi, Rita Tamambang, Olayinka Bamidele, Grace Ryan, Thomas Shakespeare, Julian Eaton, Olayinka Omigbodun

Abstract

Much of the emerging evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on people with psychosocial disabilities comes from high-income countries. This study sought to explore the perceptions and experiences of youths living with psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Using a co-produced research process, a facility-based study was conducted among youth with confirmed diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants. Data was transcribed, double-coded and analysed with Atlas.ti using a thematic analysis approach. We found that participants were aware of good evidence-based information on the nature of the disease and the pandemic. Many of them described worsening mental health and disruptions to daily routines. Opportunities for deepening family relationships, skill building, helping others, and extended time for previously neglected self-development activities were described. This study benefitted from co-production with persons with lived experience, which could be harnessed for future research on psychosis.

Keywords: COVID–19; Co-Production; Nigeria; Pandemic; Psychosis; Youth.

Conflict of interest statement

There are no known conflicts of interest associated with the conduct and reporting of this study.

© 2023. The Author(s).

References

    1. Alhie ON. Prevalence of domestic violence in Nigeria: Implications for counselling. African Journals Online. 2009;2(1):2–6.
    1. Anglin DM, Galea S, Bachman P. Going upstream to advance psychosis prevention and improve public health. JAMA psychiatry. 2020;77(7):665–666. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0142.
    1. Armiya’u, A. Y. U., Yıldırım, M., Muhammad, A., Tanhan, A., & Young, J. S. (2022). Mental health facilitators and barriers during Covid-19 in Nigeria. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 00219096221111354.Bernard, F. O., Akaito, J. A., Joseph, I., & David, K. B. (2020). COVID-19: The trends of conspiracy theories vs facts. The Pan African medical journal, 35(Suppl 2), 147. 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.147.25536
    1. Branquinho C, Kelly C, Arevalo LC, Santos A, de Gaspar M. Hey, we also have something to say”: A qualitative study of portuguese adolescents’ and young people’s experiences under COVID-19. Journal of Community Psychology. 2020;48(8):2740–2752. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22453.
    1. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2006;3:77–101. doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
    1. Brown E, Gray R, Monaco SL, O’Donoghue B, Nelson B, Thompson A, et al. The potential impact of COVID-19 on psychosis: A rapid review of contemporary epidemic and pandemic research. Schizophrenia research. 2020;222:79–87. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.05.005.
    1. Chakraborty N, Carr R, Tromans S. The impact of COVID-19 on an early intervention in psychosis service. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry. 2020;24(4):17–21. doi: 10.1002/pnp.682.
    1. Erinoso, O., Adejumo, O., Fashina, A., Falana, A., Amure, M. T., Okediran, O. J. (2020). Effect of
    1. Gillard S, Dare C, Hardy J, Nyikavaranda P, Olive RR, Shah P, et al. Experiences of living with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: A coproduced, participatory qualitative interview study. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. 2021;56(8):1447–1457. doi: 10.1007/s00127-021-02051-7.
    1. Gracia E. Cases of domestic violence against women: Towards an epidemiology of social silence, tolerance, and inhibition. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2004;58:536–537. doi: 10.1136/jech.2003.019604.
    1. Gureje O, Lasebikan V, Kola L, Makanjuola V. The nigerian survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;188:467–471. doi: 10.1192/bjp.188.5.465.
    1. Kang E, Omigbodun O, Oduguwa A, Kim W, Qin L, Ogunmola O, et al. If we build it, they will come: Caregiver decision to use an accessible outpatient psychiatric service for children and adolescents in Nigeria. Social Science & Medicine. 2021;279:113972. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113972.
    1. Kola L, Kohrt BA, Hanlon C, Naslund JA, Sikander S, Balaji M, Patel V. COVID-19 mental health impact and responses in low-income and middle-income countries: Reimagining global mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(6):535–550. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00025-0.
    1. Liberati, E., Richards, N., Parker, J., Willars, J., Scott, D., Boydell, N., & Jones, P. (2021). Remote care for mental health: qualitative study with service users, carers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.British Medical Journal open, 11(4).
    1. Morse JM. Critical analysis of strategies for determining rigor in qualitative inquiry. Qualitative health research. 2015;25(9):1212–1222. doi: 10.1177/1049732315588501.
    1. Odubanjo, D. (2021). Where COVID-19 has left Nigeria’s health system. Retrieved May 30, 2021 from The Conversation Website: .
    1. Ogueji, I. A., Agberotimi, S. F., Adesanya, B. J., & Gidado, T. N. (2021). Mental health and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of unemployed and employed people in Nigeria. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 21(1), 941–959.Okediran JO, Ilesanmi OS, Fetuga AA, Onoh I, Afolabi AA, Ogunbode O, Olajide L, Kwaghe AV, Balogun MS. The experiences of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis in Lagos, Nigeria: A qualitative study. Germs. 2020 Dec 28;10(4):356–366. doi: 10.18683/germs.2020.1228. PMID: 33489951; PMCID: PMC7811855.
    1. Olateju Z, Olufunlayo T, MacArthur C, Leung C, Taylor B. Community health workers experiences and perceptions of working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria—A qualitative study. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(3):e0265092. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265092.
    1. Omigbodun OO. Psychosocial issues in a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic population in Nigeria. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2004;39(8):667–672. doi: 10.1007/s00127-004-0793-x.
    1. Omigbodun, O., & Abdulmalik, J. (2020). The pandemic will affect the mental health of these groups of people. African Arguments. Retrieved May 10, 2021, from African Arguments Website: .
    1. Omigbodun, O. O., Odejide, O. O., & Morakinyo, J. J. (2001). Highlights from the CAR study in Ibadan. In Ustun T. B. (2001). Disability and culture: Universalism and diversity. Seattle: Published on behalf of the World Health Organization by Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.
    1. Omonzejele PF. African concepts of health, disease, and treatment: An ethical inquiry. Explore. 2008;4(2):120–126. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2007.12.001.
    1. Oyadiran, O. T., Agaga, L. A., Adebayo Adebisi, Y., Lucero-Prisno, D. E. 3rd., & Nigeria (2020 Dec). COVID-19 and the dearth of health workers. J Glob Health, 10(2), 020379. 10.7189/jogh.10.020379PMID: 33214889; PMCID: PMC7648902.
    1. Oyetunji, T. P., Ogunmola, O. A., Oyelakin, T. T., Olorunsogbon, O. F., & Ajayi, F. O. (2021). COVID-19-related risk perception, anxiety and protective behaviours among nigerian adults: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Public Health, 1–9. 10.1007/s10389-021-01502-4.
    1. Rains LS, Johnson S, Barnett P, Steare T, Needle JJ, Carr S, et al. Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care and on people with mental health conditions: Framework synthesis of international experiences and responses. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. 2021;56(1):13–24. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-01924-7.
    1. Scott S, McGowan VJ, Visram S. I’m gonna tell you about how Mrs rona has affected me’. Exploring young people’s experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in North East England: A qualitative diary-based study. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(7):3837. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073837.
    1. Simblett SK, Wilson E, Morris D, Evans J, Odoi C, Mutepua M, et al. Keeping well in a COVID-19 crisis: A qualitative study formulating the perspectives of mental health service users and carers. Journal of Mental Health. 2021;30(2):138–147. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2021.1875424.
    1. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International journal for quality in health care. 2007;19(6):349–357. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzm042.
    1. Wang PS, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alonso J, Angermeyer MC, Borges G, Bromet EJ, et al. Use of mental health services for anxiety, mood, and substance disorders in 17 countries in the WHO world mental health surveys. The Lancet. 2007;370(9590):841–850. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61414-7.
    1. White P. The concept of diseases and health care in african traditional religion in Ghana. HTS: Theological Studies. 2015;71(3):1–7.
    1. Whiteford, H. A., Ferrari, A. J., Degenhardt, L., Feigin, V., & Vos, T. (2015). The global burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders: An analysis from the global burden of disease study 2010. PloS one, 10(2), 10.1371/journal.pone.0116820.
    1. COVID-19 on mental health of frontline health workers in Nigeria: A preliminary cross-sectional study.Journal of psychosomatic research, 139,110288.
    1. UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, 28 (March 2017). A/HRC/35/21. Retrieved 15 June, 2021, from Refworld Website: .
    1. World Health Organization (2010). Mental health and development: targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group. In Mental health and development: targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group (pp. 74–74).
    1. World Health Organization. Assistive technology. Switzerland: World Health Organization (2018). ; Retrieved 30 May, 2021, from WHO Website: .
    1. World Health Organization (2020a). Coronavirus disease (‎‎ COVID-19)‎‎: weekly epidemiological update. Retrieved 30 May, 2021, from WHO Website:
    1. World Health Organization (2020b). Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak (No. WHO/2019-nCoV/Disability/2020.1). Retrieved 30 May, 2021, from WHO Website: .

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer och medarbetare

Medicinska tillstånd

Läkemedelsinterventioner

3
Prenumerera