prevalence of severe mental distress and its correlates in a population-based study in rural south-west uganda普遍存在的严重的精神痛苦和相关的以人群为基础的研究在乌干达西南部农村.pdfVIP

Kinyanda et al. BMC Psychiatry 2011, 11:97 /1471-244X/11/97 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Prevalence of severe mental distress and its correlates in a population-based study in rural south-west Uganda 1* 1 2 1,2 Eugene Kinyanda , Laban Waswa , Kathy Baisley and Dermot Maher Abstract Background: The 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. Methods: 6,663 respondents aged 13 years and above in a general population cohort in southwestern Uganda were screened for probable SMD and possible associated factors. Results: 0.9% 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. Conclusion: SMD 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. Background the majority, the communities still believe that these ill- Governments in sub-Saharan Africa including those in nesses are due to non-medical causes. We also desired Uganda, Liberia and Southern Sudan are slowly realizing to use a category amendable to use by non-medical that mental illness makes a signifi