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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Stakeholder's perceptions of help-seeking behaviour among people with mental health problems in Uganda
International Journal of Mental Health Systems, Volume 5, Article 5, Year 2011
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Description
Introduction: Mental health facilities in Uganda remain underutilized, despite efforts to decentralize the services. One of the possible explanations for this is the help-seeking behaviours of people with mental health problems. Unfortunately little is known about the factors that influence the help-seeking behaviours. Delays in seeking proper treatment are known to compromise the outcome of the care.Aim: To examine the help-seeking behaviours of individuals with mental health problems, and the factors that may influence such behaviours in Uganda.Method: Sixty-two interviews and six focus groups were conducted with stakeholders drawn from national and district levels. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted using a framework analysis approach.Results: The findings revealed that in some Ugandan communities, help is mostly sought from traditional healers initially, whereas western form of care is usually considered as a last resort. The factors found to influence help-seeking behaviour within the community include: beliefs about the causes of mental illness, the nature of service delivery, accessibility and cost, stigma.Conclusion: Increasing the uptake of mental health services requires dedicating more human and financial resources to conventional mental health services. Better understanding of socio-cultural factors that may influence accessibility, engagement and collaboration with traditional healers and conventional practitioners is also urgently required. © 2011 Nsereko et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Nsereko, James R.
Uganda, Kampala
Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital
Kizza, Dorothy
Uganda, Kampala
Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital
Kigozi, Fred N.
Uganda, Kampala
Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital
Ssebunnya, Joshua
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Ndyanabangi, Sheila Zaramba
Uganda, Kampala
Uganda Ministry of Health
Flisher, Alan J.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Cooper, Sara
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Statistics
Citations: 85
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1752-4458-5-5
e-ISSN:
17524458
Research Areas
Mental Health
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Uganda