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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Common understandings of women's mental illness in Ghana: Results from a qualitative study
International Review of Psychiatry, Volume 22, No. 6, Year 2010
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Description
Despite the high rates of depression and anxiety disorders amongst women, the mental health of women is a neglected area, particularly in Africa. This study sought to explore what key stakeholders perceive as the main causes of mental illness in women in Ghana. Using qualitative methods, 81 semi-structured interviews and seven focus group discussions were conducted with 120 key stakeholders drawn from 5 of the 10 regions in Ghana. The analysis was undertaken using a grounded theory approach. Respondents attributed mental illness in women to a number of causes. These included women being the weaker sex, hormones, witchcraft, adultery, abuse and poverty. Explanations could be clustered under three broad categories: women's inherent vulnerability, witchcraft, and gender disadvantage. The way in which women's subordinate position within society may underpin their mental distress needs to be recognized and addressed. The results from this study offer opportunities to identify how policy can better recognize, accommodate and address the mental health needs of women in Ghana and other low-income African countries. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Ofori-Atta, Angela L.
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Cooper, Sara
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Akpalu, Bright
Ghana, Kintampo
Kintampo Health Research Centre
Osei, Akwasi O.
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Health Ghana
Doku, Victor Christian Korley
Ghana, Kintampo
Kintampo Health Research Centre
Lund, Crick
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Flisher, Alan J.
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Statistics
Citations: 45
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3109/09540261.2010.536150
ISSN:
09540261
e-ISSN:
13691627
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Mental Health
Study Design
Grounded Theory
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Ghana
Participants Gender
Female