Rarity of dementia (by DSM-III-R) in an urban community in Nigeria

Dementia of the elderly, a public health problem world-wide, is underdocumented in black Africa. We carried out a door-to-door survey in Idikan in NW3 ward, a political and administrative unit, with a population of 9000: in Ibadan city, Nigeria, to determine the burden of dementia. Census and demogr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	East African medical journal Vol. 69; no. 2; p. 64
Main Authors:	Ogunniyi, A O, Osuntokun, B O, Lekwauwa, U B, Falope, Z F
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Kenya 01-02-1992
Subjects:	Adult Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Dementia - diagnosis Dementia - epidemiology Educational Status Female Health Surveys Humans Male Mental Status Schedule Middle Aged Nigeria - epidemiology Prevalence Sex Factors Urban Population Nigeria
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Summary:	Dementia of the elderly, a public health problem world-wide, is underdocumented in black Africa. We carried out a door-to-door survey in Idikan in NW3 ward, a political and administrative unit, with a population of 9000: in Ibadan city, Nigeria, to determine the burden of dementia. Census and demographic listing was done by trained clinical students who concurrently administered a modified Mini Mental State Examination as a screening instrument to those aged 40 years or more. Only 2 out of 932 subjects refused: 293 (31%) were aged 65 years or more. Those who were positive to the screening test and 20% of negatives were investigated by neurologists. Decline in cognitive function significantly correlated with age, female sex and low level of education. Impaired cognition was present in 41 (4.4%) but was due to depressive disorders in 7 (0.6%) patients. In none of the remaining 34 (3.8%) subjects could a diagnosis of dementia as defined by DSM-III-R be justified.
ISSN:	0012-835X