JOAN N.CHUKWURAH

Chronic kidney disease poses a significant psychosocial burden, particularly among patients undergoing long-term dialysis in low-resource settings. This study assesse psychosocial challenges and coping strategies among patients receiving dialysis treatment in a tertiary institution in Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 100, selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency tables) and inferential analysis, with significance established at p < 0.05. Findings revealed that a substantial proportion of patients experienced high levels of psychological distress, including anxiety (72.0%) and depressive symptoms (65.3%), largely attributed to prolonged treatment duration and uncertainty about prognosis. Financial strain was reported by 81.4% of respondents, with many struggling to consistently afford dialysis sessions, medications, and transportation. Social challenges included withdrawal from socialactivities (58.7%) and feelings of dependency (62.5%). Despite these challenges, the majority of respondents adopted spiritual coping strategies (78.9%), followed by reliance on family support (69.4%) and acceptance of illness (54.2%). However, professional psychological support services were poorly utilized (18.0%) due to stigma and limited availability within dialysis units. A statistically significant association was found between financial burden and psychological stress levels (p = 0.002), as well as between coping strategy adoption and overall emotional adjustment (p = 0.004). The study concludes that dialysis patients face complex psychosocial that extend beyond clinical care. It recommends integration of mental health services, social support systems, and financial subsidy programs into dialysis care to enhance patient well-being and treatment adherence.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where awareness, screening, and prevention are inadequate. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and factors influencing the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female non-academic staff at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire from 90 respondents selected through total enumeration. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi- square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that while most respondents (86.7%) had heard of cervical cancer, knowledge about specific risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and recommended screening intervals was limited. Although the majority demonstrated positive attitudes toward screening (mean = 3.52), actual utilization was low, with only 31.1% having ever undergone screening. Major barriers identified included lack of awareness, financial constraints, fear of the screening procedure, and distance to healthcare centers. A significant relationship was found between awareness and screening utilization (p = 0.001) as well as between attitude and utilization (p = 0.003). The study concludes that despite relatively high awareness, inadequate knowledge and prevailing barriers hinder effective screening uptake. It recommends intensified health education, workplace-based screening programs, policy support, and subsidized services to enhance cervical cancer prevention among women in tertiary institutions.