Special needs in Forensic Mental Health-Women Essay

Special needs in Forensic Mental Health-Women - Essay Example It is interesting that the social worker sees her as "innocent" and that she feels that the drug and alcohol abuse has contributed to her being able to interact with her children. Although this may be true, there is another issue that should be addressed that include her fear of abandonment and anti-social behaviour. This behaviour, along with her ambivalence towards her children could be an indication of an attachment injury that she received during the sexual abuse. Sue would not have been able to attach well to her parents because her father was bipolar and her mother suffered from chronic depression. Her parents history of mental illness would also mean that her parents were unable to bond with her or take care of even her basic needs. From the case study, the counsellor cannot ascertain whether Sue is mentally ill or whether the drugs and alcohol are responsible for her behaviour. She may be mentally impaired since her IQ results are within "borderline range of intellectual functioning," She could have mental retardation either intellectually or environmentally. Sue was raised by a depressed mother and a bipolar father. This indicates that her needs probably were not met as a child and that her home life was very erratic, so attachment may have happened but not in a very positive way. According to Sorbello, Eccleston, Ward & Jones (2002), female offenders who have been abused or neglected have a "higher rate of psychological dysfunction than men" (p. 200). For Sue, this is shown through her need for alcohol and drugs. Although the case study does not specifically comment on whether Sue is bipolar or suffering from depression, her drug and alcohol problems could be triggered by episodes of depression. This would be something that the mental health practitioner should examine. Because Sue was sexually abused as a child, this issue must be

Why are Nigerians easily affect by HIV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Why are Nigerians easily affect by HIV - Essay Example In 2005, the number escalated to 2,20,000 deaths. In Nigeria prevalence levels of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are highest among young people, especially women between the ages of 20 and 29 years. However, there are differences on a regional as well as state level basis, attributed to the marked social and ethnocultural differences at these levels. According to Deji et al (2007: 10), the prevalence â€Å"ranged from a low of 2.3% in the south west to a high of 7% in the north central regions†. At State level, the variations are wider; as in Osun and Ogun the prevalence of the disease among pregnant women was 1.2% and 1.5% respectively, as compared to 9.3% in Benue and 12% in Cross River. Projections show that by 2009, some five million Nigerians would have developed AIDs, since the disease takes up to ten years to develop fully into AIDs after the onset of infection. Surveys indicate that both urban and rural areas are affected (Sofo et al, 2003: 14). Nigeria’s government predicts that from 2007 to 2011, the adult prevalence of HIV/ AIDs will reach as high as 26% and up to 15 million people will be infected. By 2011, around 10 million Nigerians would have died from AIDs, and Nigeria would overtake South Africa as the African continent’s most AIDs-affected nation (Rotberb, 2007: 25). Before 2011, it would not be possible to stop the escalation of the disease, but an improved availability of treatment with antiretroviral drugs and better healh infrastructure, would help to increase the life span of sufferers. However, slowing the spread of HIV/ AIDs is considered to be crucial in controlling the disease. Professor Rasheed A. Bakare, an accomplished microbiologist and venereologist has stated in an interview (Annals, 2005: 48) that in Ibadan which is the capital city of Oyo State in Nigeria, Africa, the most common agents responsible for sexually