Social network as a determinant of pathway to mental health service utilization among psychotic patients in a Nigerian hospital

Abstract

Findings indicate that social support and social network enhanced utilization of mental health services for psychiatric patients except for those with psychotic depression or those with symptoms of psychological distress. In addition, alternative sources of care are still relevant in mental health service delivery in South West Nigeria.

Family Burden in Caregivers of Schizophrenia Patients: Prevalence and Socio-demographic Correlates

“…These generally low mean FBIS figures may be potentially ascribed to the effect of social network and effective support system in Nigeria. [5]…”

The impact of self‐rated health on medical care utilization for older people with depressive symptoms

“…It is also worth noting that a high medical utilization may not necessarily be without benefits. For example, one study found that psychotic patients with a better social network and social support tend to enhance the use of general medical and specialty psychiatric services (Lasebikan et al, 2012). In this case, medical care use should be encouraged instead of limited.…”

Trust in Physician Scale: Factor structure, reliability, validity and correlates of trust in a sample of Nigerian psychiatric outpatients

“…In another recent study comparing patients' trust in the psychiatrist and the general practitioners, patients demonstrated equally good levels of trust in both psychiatrists and general practitioners, with male patients demonstrating higher levels of trust (Mather et al, 2012). A significant proportion of Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders usually would have received treatment from unorthodox facilities, such as traditional native healers and religious centers, prior to presentation in a formal mental health establishment (Lasebikan et al, 2012). It has been said that this observation is as a result of the wide spread belief that the etiology of mental disorders is perceived to be supernatural rather than biological (Adewuya and Makanjuola, 2008).…”