Prevalence of severe mental distress and its correlates in a population-based study in rural south-west Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundThe problem of severe mental distress (SMD) in sub-Saharan Africa is difficult to investigate given that a substantial proportion of patients with SMD never access formal health care.This study set out to investigate SMD and it's associated factors in a rural population-based cohort in south-west Uganda.Methods6,663 respondents aged 13 years and above in a general population cohort in southwestern Uganda were screened for probable SMD and possible associated factors.Results0.9% screened positive for probable SMD. The factors significantly associated with SMD included older age, male sex, low socio-economic status, being a current smoker, having multiple or no sexual partners in the past year, reported epilepsy and consulting a traditional healer.ConclusionSMD in this study was associated with both socio-demographic and behavioural factors. The association between SMD and high risk sexual behaviour calls for the integration of HIV prevention in mental health care programmes in high HIV prevalence settings.

A Systematic Review of Tobacco Smoking Prevalence and Description of Tobacco Control Strategies in Sub-Saharan African Countries; 2007 to 2014

“…For Nigeria, a low prevalence of 2.7% in current smoking was reported in 2008[ 16 ] compared to 14.6% reported one year previously (2007). [ 25 ] the smoking prevalence previously reported in rural Uganda during 2008–2009 (2.2%)[ 31 ] increased slightly to 6% in 2011. [ 17 ]…”

Major depressive disorder seven years after the conflict in northern Uganda: burden, risk factors and impact on outcomes (The Wayo-Nero Study)

“…About a tenth (7.3%) of the respondents self- reported that they had ever suffered from a nervous or psychiatric problem of these only 8% reported that they had ever sought treatment for this condition from a health facility indicating that many of such cases are not reported to the modern health system. Kinyanda and colleagues in non-war affected south-western Uganda reported a prevalence of self-reported severe mental illness of 0.9% [ 27 ]. Other Ugandan studies [ 38 , 39 ] have noted that less than 20% of all persons with mental illness are treated at formal health services in the country.…”

“…A structured questionnaire consisting of various standardized tools previously employed in the Ugandan context by one of the investigators (EK) was used in this study [ 19 , 26 , 27 ]. The different assessment tools in the study questionnaire we translated into the local Luo language by a process of forward and backward translation by two teams of mental health professionals working independently of each other.…”

Factors associated with behavioral problems and cognitive impairment in children with epilepsy of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…This study has found a link between behavioral problems, both externalized and total, and an antiepileptic treatment prior to the consultation at the CSMT. In non epileptic patients, Kinyanda et al [19] and Abbo et al [20] had found that type of treatment, biomedical and/or traditional, influences psychological issues. In the present study, behavioral problems were less frequent in CWE who had not received antiepileptic treatment prior to the consultation at the CSMT.…”