Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi

The aim of this study was to describe the pathways to care taken by clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital (ZMH) in Zomba District, Malawi. C...

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Main Author: Nyirongo, Distress
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:8080/handle/20.500.12845/122
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author Nyirongo, Distress
author_facet Nyirongo, Distress
author_sort Nyirongo, Distress
collection DSpace
description The aim of this study was to describe the pathways to care taken by clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital (ZMH) in Zomba District, Malawi. Consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit the participants and a total number of 266 clients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16. Findings revealed that 58% of the participants first consulted general practitioners (GPs), 28% consulted traditional healers, 8% consulted religious healers, 4% went straight to ZMH and 2% were first in contact with police. However, 24% of the participants who consulted the general practitioners did not receive any treatment for their symptoms. The median duration before reaching ZMH was 42 weeks and clients who first consulted traditional healers had the longest delay. Gender, symptoms, diagnosis and proximity had a significant statistical association with first seeking help from health professionals. Conclusion was made that most clients with first episode psychotic disorders seek other pathways before going to ZMH, and that there is significant delay between the onset of symptoms and receipt of appropriate care. It is therefore recommended that mental health professionals should emphasize on mental health awareness campaigns in the communities and working collaboratively with all care providers involved.
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spelling oai:nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:20.500.12845-1222023-03-12T00:07:36Z Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi Nyirongo, Distress Community Health Nursing The aim of this study was to describe the pathways to care taken by clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital (ZMH) in Zomba District, Malawi. Consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit the participants and a total number of 266 clients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16. Findings revealed that 58% of the participants first consulted general practitioners (GPs), 28% consulted traditional healers, 8% consulted religious healers, 4% went straight to ZMH and 2% were first in contact with police. However, 24% of the participants who consulted the general practitioners did not receive any treatment for their symptoms. The median duration before reaching ZMH was 42 weeks and clients who first consulted traditional healers had the longest delay. Gender, symptoms, diagnosis and proximity had a significant statistical association with first seeking help from health professionals. Conclusion was made that most clients with first episode psychotic disorders seek other pathways before going to ZMH, and that there is significant delay between the onset of symptoms and receipt of appropriate care. It is therefore recommended that mental health professionals should emphasize on mental health awareness campaigns in the communities and working collaboratively with all care providers involved. The aim of this study was to describe the pathways to care taken by clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital (ZMH) in Zomba District, Malawi. Consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit the participants and a total number of 266 clients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16. Findings revealed that 58% of the participants first consulted general practitioners (GPs), 28% consulted traditional healers, 8% consulted religious healers, 4% went straight to ZMH and 2% were first in contact with police. However, 24% of the participants who consulted the general practitioners did not receive any treatment for their symptoms. The median duration before reaching ZMH was 42 weeks and clients who first consulted traditional healers had the longest delay. Gender, symptoms, diagnosis and proximity had a significant statistical association with first seeking help from health professionals. Conclusion was made that most clients with first episode psychotic disorders seek other pathways before going to ZMH, and that there is significant delay between the onset of symptoms and receipt of appropriate care. It is therefore recommended that mental health professionals should emphasize on mental health awareness campaigns in the communities and working collaboratively with all care providers involved. 2021-02-26T13:30:21Z 2021-11-03T06:47:37Z 2021-02-26T13:30:21Z 2021-11-03T06:47:37Z 2015-10-01 Thesis http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:8080/handle/20.500.12845/122 en application/pdf
spellingShingle Community Health Nursing
Nyirongo, Distress
Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title_full Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title_fullStr Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title_short Pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at Zomba Mental Hospital, Malawi
title_sort pathways to care for clients with first episode psychotic disorders at zomba mental hospital, malawi
topic Community Health Nursing
url http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:8080/handle/20.500.12845/122
work_keys_str_mv AT nyirongodistress pathwaystocareforclientswithfirstepisodepsychoticdisordersatzombamentalhospitalmalawi