Psychiatric Morbidity among Residents of a Destitute Rehabilitation Centre in Lagos, South-western Nigeria
Keywords:
Destitute, psychiatric morbidity, rehabilitation centre, Lagos, NigeriaAbstract
Background. Destitution is a global problem. Previous studies indicated that the association between destitution and mental illness is a public health concern. Publications on destitute rehabilitation centres are scanty in Africa. This study aimed at determining the psychiatric morbidity and associated sociodemographic correlates among the residents of a destitute rehabilitation centre in Lagos, South-western Nigeria.
Methods. The residents of a destitute rehabilitation centre were investigated for psychiatric morbidity. They were interviewed one-on-one basis using the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for presence of specific mental illness by a consultant psychiatrist.
Results. The majority of the participants 400 (94.7%) were unemployed, single 187 (44.3%) and 353 (83.6%) lived on the streets. Among the participants, 137 (32%) were diagnosed with schizophrenia, 89 (32.4%), mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol and multiple substance abuse, 51 (12.1%), antisocial personality disorder, 13 (7.1%) mania and (1.8%) had severe depression The association of drug use between males and females were found to be statistically significant (X2=7.874, DF=1, P= .005).
Conclusion. The findings of this study showed that the residents of the investigated destitute rehabilitation centre had high prevalence of mental illness. Interventions focusing on risk factors for destitution such as severe mental illness and substance use disorders should be looked into by policy makers. Mental healthcare service should also be provided in Nigerian destitute rehabilitation centres to reduce incidence and prevalence of mental disorders.
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