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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 8/2014

01-08-2014 | Original Paper

Prevalence, types and comorbidity of mental disorders in a Kenyan primary health centre

Authors: Jean-Louis Aillon, David M. Ndetei, Lincoln Khasakhala, Washington Njogu Ngari, Hesbon Otieno Achola, Selestine Akinyi, Simone Ribero

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 8/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the prevalence, types and comorbidity of the most common mental disorders and the spread of suicide risk in a primary care practice in Kenya.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 300 adult outpatients were randomly selected while they were consulting their general practitioner. The M.I.N.I. Plus interview five was used to diagnose psychiatric disorders and suicide risk.

Results

Thus, 56.3 % of the sample (n = 169) presented one or more psychiatric disorders. The most prevalent disorders were Affective (39.0 %), Anxiety (31.3 %), and Somatoform (13.0 %). Regarding specific disorders, the most common were Major Depressive Disorder (26.3 %), Agoraphobia (16.7 %), Pain Disorder (12.5 %), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (9.3 %) and Bipolar Disorder (9 %). We found three cases of Bulimia Nervosa (1 %); 29.7 % had more than one current mental disorder. Suicide risk was present in 12.7 % of participants. No associations were identified between socio-demographic factors and the presence of mental disorder. Suicide risk was higher in women and in patients who came from slum areas. Gastric pain was positively associated with presence of mental disorder.

Conclusion

High prevalence of mental disorders and suicide risk calls for integrating mental health services in primary health care; in particular, this study highlights the importance of differentiating between specific types of mental disorders (which require different therapeutic approaches), and of diagnosing comorbidities.
Footnotes
1
We considered Semi−slum as non slum in this analysis.
 
2
In this analysis p value is calculated comparing Kamba ethnic group versus the other ones.
 
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence, types and comorbidity of mental disorders in a Kenyan primary health centre
Authors
Jean-Louis Aillon
David M. Ndetei
Lincoln Khasakhala
Washington Njogu Ngari
Hesbon Otieno Achola
Selestine Akinyi
Simone Ribero
Publication date
01-08-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 8/2014
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0755-2

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