Symptoms of common mental disorders and their correlates among women in Accra, Ghana: a population-based survey
Symptoms of common mental disorders and their correlates among women in Accra, Ghana: a population-based survey
Introduction: To comply with its new mental health bill, Ghana needs to integrate mental health within other health and social services. Mental disorders represent 9% of disease burden in Ghana. Women are more affected by common mental disorders, and are underrepresented in treatment settings. This study examines physical and social correlates of mental illness in adult women in Accra, Ghana, so as to inform general clinical practice and health policy.
Methods: The SF-36 and K6 forms and 4 psychosis questions were administered in three languages to 2,814 adult women living in Accra, as part of a larger cross-sectional population-based survey of women’s health. The validity of these tools was assessed through correlations within and between measures. Risk factors for mental distress were analysed using multivariate regression. Health service use was also described using statistical frequencies.
Results: Both the SF36 and K6 appear valid in a female Ghanaian population. Low levels of education, poverty and unemployment are negatively associated with mental health. Physical ill health is also associated with mental distress. No association was found between mental distress and religion or ethnicity. Some additional risk factors were significant for one, but not both of the outcome variables. Only 0.4% of women reported seeing a mental health professional in the previous year, whereas 58.6% had visited a health centre.
Conclusion: The implications for women are that marriage is neither good nor bad for mental health, but education and employment are strong protective factors. Researchers should note that the SF36 and K6 can be used in a Ghanaian population, however more research is needed to determine the cut-off point for serious mental illness on the K6, as well as research into mental disorders in a mixed-gender population.
mental health disorders, women’s health, depression, K-6 and SF-36 scales, psychiatric care, west africa
95-103
de Menil, V.
a828a4dd-833c-46dd-902d-8952a1f3fb31
Osei, A.
f9d78e45-273c-446a-9c45-08c95221fe64
Douptcheva, N.
f02570b1-53ba-4b5c-8b40-ab4aa09b8df7
Hill, Allan G.
5b17aa71-0c14-4fbf-8bc9-807c8294d4ae
Yaro, P.
7afb3e85-5a22-48a9-89ad-3ff4ed9a6a93
De-Graft Aikins, A.
a72568dd-4613-49c3-9037-aa7cfa2aaba2
June 2012
de Menil, V.
a828a4dd-833c-46dd-902d-8952a1f3fb31
Osei, A.
f9d78e45-273c-446a-9c45-08c95221fe64
Douptcheva, N.
f02570b1-53ba-4b5c-8b40-ab4aa09b8df7
Hill, Allan G.
5b17aa71-0c14-4fbf-8bc9-807c8294d4ae
Yaro, P.
7afb3e85-5a22-48a9-89ad-3ff4ed9a6a93
De-Graft Aikins, A.
a72568dd-4613-49c3-9037-aa7cfa2aaba2
de Menil, V., Osei, A., Douptcheva, N., Hill, Allan G., Yaro, P. and De-Graft Aikins, A.
(2012)
Symptoms of common mental disorders and their correlates among women in Accra, Ghana: a population-based survey.
Ghana Medical Journal, 46 (2), .
(PMID:22942457)
Abstract
Introduction: To comply with its new mental health bill, Ghana needs to integrate mental health within other health and social services. Mental disorders represent 9% of disease burden in Ghana. Women are more affected by common mental disorders, and are underrepresented in treatment settings. This study examines physical and social correlates of mental illness in adult women in Accra, Ghana, so as to inform general clinical practice and health policy.
Methods: The SF-36 and K6 forms and 4 psychosis questions were administered in three languages to 2,814 adult women living in Accra, as part of a larger cross-sectional population-based survey of women’s health. The validity of these tools was assessed through correlations within and between measures. Risk factors for mental distress were analysed using multivariate regression. Health service use was also described using statistical frequencies.
Results: Both the SF36 and K6 appear valid in a female Ghanaian population. Low levels of education, poverty and unemployment are negatively associated with mental health. Physical ill health is also associated with mental distress. No association was found between mental distress and religion or ethnicity. Some additional risk factors were significant for one, but not both of the outcome variables. Only 0.4% of women reported seeing a mental health professional in the previous year, whereas 58.6% had visited a health centre.
Conclusion: The implications for women are that marriage is neither good nor bad for mental health, but education and employment are strong protective factors. Researchers should note that the SF36 and K6 can be used in a Ghanaian population, however more research is needed to determine the cut-off point for serious mental illness on the K6, as well as research into mental disorders in a mixed-gender population.
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Published date: June 2012
Keywords:
mental health disorders, women’s health, depression, K-6 and SF-36 scales, psychiatric care, west africa
Organisations:
Social Statistics & Demography
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Local EPrints ID: 344281
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/344281
ISSN: 0016-9560
PURE UUID: 299a4c61-6b26-4c4a-8ceb-8e5967faff3d
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Date deposited: 16 Oct 2012 14:31
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:38
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Contributors
Author:
V. de Menil
Author:
A. Osei
Author:
N. Douptcheva
Author:
P. Yaro
Author:
A. De-Graft Aikins
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