Psychiatric morbidities and quality of life among surgically treated noma survivors. Preliminary observations in Nigerian cohorts. - 24/03/25

Doi : 10.1016/j.jormas.2025.102315

R.O. Braimah ^a,^⁎ , A.T. Bakare ^b , A.I. Yakubu ^b,^⁎ , A.O. Taiwo ^a , M. Bala ^a,^c , O.A. Fatusi ^d , A. Butali ^e , B.O. Ile-Ogedengbe ^f
^a Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
^b Department of Psychiatry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State, Nigeria
^c Department of Dental & Maxillofacial Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria
^d Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria
^e Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52241, USA
^f Department of Dental & Maxillofacial Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

^⁎Correspondence author at. Faculty of Dental Sciences, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UDUS/UDUTH, Sokoto, Nigeria.Faculty of Dental SciencesDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUDUS/UDUTHSokotoNigeria^⁎⁎Department of Psychiatry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State, Nigeria.Department of PsychiatryUsmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching HospitalSokoto StateNigeria

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Abstract

Introduction

Facial disfigurement, a sequelae of Noma, has the potential to impact the mental and social well-being of survivors, predisposing them to psychiatric morbidities and low health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the study is to determine the psychiatric morbidities and QoL among Noma patients in Nigeria.

Material and Methods

A total of 41 participants were recruited and sociodemographic data were collected. Anxiety and depression, were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), while QoL was evaluated using World Health Organization QoL – BREF. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25 (IBM SPSS Statistics for iOS, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Descriptive statistics was employed alongside inferential analysis using the chi-square test with a significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Results

The mean age of participants was 32.5 years (SD ± 12.0). The largest proportion of participants (31.7 %) fell within the 18–24 years age category. Islamic education was the main form of education (65.9 %), and the majority were farmers (61.0 %). The prevalence rates of depression, low quality of life, and anxiety were 73.2 %, 48.8 %, and 73.2 %, respectively. A statistically significant association was found between anxiety and depression (p-value < 0.001). Although anxiety and depression were more prevalent among respondents with a low QoL, this was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.268).

Conclusion

The prevalence of psychiatric morbidities (anxiety and depression) is high in Noma survivors, and their QoL is significantly low. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of mental disorders among Noma survivors is paramount.

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Keywords : Noma, Cancrum oris, Depression, Anxiety, Quality of life