Victoria N Mutiso1, Christine W Musyimi1,2, Andrew Tomita3,4,5, Lianne Loeffen6, Jonathan K Burns7,8, David M Ndetei1,9. 1. 1 Africa Mental Health Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya. 2. 2 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. 3 Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 4. 4 Africa Health Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 5. 5 KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 6. 6 Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 7. 7 Discipline of Psychiatry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 8. 8 The Institute for Health Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. 9. 9 University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study investigated the epidemiological patterns of mental illness and stigma in community households in Kenya using a cross-sectional community household survey among 846 participants. METHODS: A cross-sectional community household survey was conducted around urban slum (Kangemi) and rural (Kibwezi) selected health facilities in Kenya. All households within the two sites served by the selected health facilities were included in the study. To select the main respondent in the household, the oldest adult who could speak English, Kiswahili or both (the official languages in Kenya) was selected to participate in the interview. The Opinion about Mental Illness in Chinese Community (OMICC) questionnaire and the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus Version 5 (MINI) tools were administered to the participants. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare prevalence according to gender, while adjusted regression models examined the association between mental illness and views about mental illness, stratified by gender. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mental illness was 45%, showing gender differences regarding common types of illness. The opinions about mental illness were similar for men and women, while rural respondents were more positively opinionated than urban participants. Overall, suffering from mental illness was associated with more positive opinions among women and more negative opinions among men. CONCLUSION: More research is needed into the factors explaining the observed differences in opinion about mental illness between the subgroups, and the impact of mental illness on stigma in Kenya in order to create an evidence-based approach against stigma.
PURPOSE: This study investigated the epidemiological patterns of mental illness and stigma in community households in Kenya using a cross-sectional community household survey among 846 participants. METHODS: A cross-sectional community household survey was conducted around urban slum (Kangemi) and rural (Kibwezi) selected health facilities in Kenya. All households within the two sites served by the selected health facilities were included in the study. To select the main respondent in the household, the oldest adult who could speak English, Kiswahili or both (the official languages in Kenya) was selected to participate in the interview. The Opinion about Mental Illness in Chinese Community (OMICC) questionnaire and the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus Version 5 (MINI) tools were administered to the participants. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare prevalence according to gender, while adjusted regression models examined the association between mental illness and views about mental illness, stratified by gender. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mental illness was 45%, showing gender differences regarding common types of illness. The opinions about mental illness were similar for men and women, while rural respondents were more positively opinionated than urban participants. Overall, suffering from mental illness was associated with more positive opinions among women and more negative opinions among men. CONCLUSION: More research is needed into the factors explaining the observed differences in opinion about mental illness between the subgroups, and the impact of mental illness on stigma in Kenya in order to create an evidence-based approach against stigma.
Authors: Rachel Jenkins; Frank Njenga; Marx Okonji; Pius Kigamwa; Makheti Baraza; James Ayuyo; Nicola Singleton; Sally McManus; David Kiima Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2012-05-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: V N Mutiso; K Pike; C W Musyimi; T J Rebello; A Tele; I Gitonga; G Thornicroft; D M Ndetei Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2018-06-04 Impact factor: 6.892
Authors: Sarah C Sutherland; Harry S Shannon; David Ayuku; David L Streiner; Olli Saarela; Lukoye Atwoli; Paula Braitstein Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-11-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Victoria N Mutiso; Isaiah Gitonga; Abednego Musau; Christine W Musyimi; Eric Nandoya; Tahilia J Rebello; Kathleen M Pike; David M Ndetei Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2018-10-15