Effect of Pre and Post Academic Examination Stress on Serum Level of Cortisol and Progesterone Circulation amongst Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus Anambra State, Nigeria
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Stress has become an important issue in academic circle as well as in our society. Academic examination stress was considered an important factor to increased circulation of cortisol and progesterone amongst students. Therefore this study was designed to determine cortisol and progesterone levels in apparently healthy students (n=30) during a day examination and those who have no examination served as control subjects (n=30). Serum levels of cortisol (ng/ml) and progesterone (ng/ml) were determined before examination in the test group and Control group and after examination in the test group alone. Serum level of albumin (g/l) was also determined in all the subjects. The result obtained showed that serum levels of cortisol, was significantly higher in pre-examination when compared with the post examination (P<0.001) while serum level of progesterone was significantly lower in pre-examination when compared with the post-examination (P<0.01). The mean level of cortisol was significantly higher in pre-examination subjects when compared with the control subjects (P<0.01) while the mean level of progesterone was significantly lower in pre-examination subjects when compared with the control subjects (P<0.01). The result also revealed that the mean level of progesterone was significantly higher in control subjects when compared with the post-examination (P<0.01), while there were no significant difference in the mean levels of both post-examination cortisol and albumin in the test subjects compared with the control subjects (>0.1). The results showed there were significant levels of negative correlation between pre-progesterone and pre-cortisol r=-0.399; P<0.05) and pre-progesterone versus post-progesterone (r=0.419; P<0.05). This study indicates that serum level of cortisol increases significantly while serum progesterone level decreases significantly before the examination. This may have implication for clustered examinations within many days.
Authors and Affiliations
Onyenekwe Charles Chinedum, Ezeani Michael Chukwudi, A. Udeogu Ndidiamaka, C. Anyiam Daniel, U. Meludu Samuel, Nnadozie Okwudiri
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP342829
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2014/3289
- Views 41
- Downloads 0
Oviposition Site Selection and Habitat Characterization of Anopheles Mosquito in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
Background: Malaria still remains a life-threatening disease worldwide causing between 190 and 311 million cases of malaria in 2008. Due to the ever increasing resistance to malaria drugs, source reduction has been recog...
Microscopy Negative Malaria during a Peak Transmission Season in a Malaria Endemic Setting: Diagnostic Accuracy of RDTs, Expert Microscopy and the Value of Presumptive Treatment
Aim: We investigated all malaria symptomatic patients with microscopy-negative results during a peak malaria transmission season to ascertain the need for presumptive treatment of malaria among these patients. Justificat...
Expanding Access to Maternal Health Services by the Use of Traditional Birth Attendants: Experiences of the Sunni Hospital Group, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Aim: We intend to ascertain the experience of Sunni Hospital Maiduguri on the use of TBAs in enhancing Maternal Health Care Services. Study Design: It was a retrospective observational survey of a community health proje...
Epidemiological Trends of Lassa Fever Outbreaks and Insights for Future Control in Nigeria
The pattern of Lassa fever outbreaks in Nigeria over the years is worrisome and increasingly becoming more challenging with frequent and widening geographical spread. Lassa fever is endemic and fast becoming hyper-endemi...
A Report on Applying Digital Epiluminescence Dermoscopy to Guide Topical Treatment for Generalised Vitiligo
We have reported on utilising digital epiluminescence dermoscopy to detect the sparing of perifollicular pigments in localised vitiligo. These spotty zones might be the most acute autoimmune battle line. We saw a 68-year...