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

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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Notes

  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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Acknowledgments

This study has been accomplished with the support of the African Mental Health Foundation, the European Social Fund, Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta and the Italian Ministry of Employment and Social Policies. The authors would like to thank Elena Dal Santo for the support with the English translation, Federico Gobbi for inspiring the project, Gianfranco Morino, Joseph J. Cagni, Gabriele Beacco and Grace Mutevu for the support in the organization of the study and throughout the data collection process. We furthermore thank all the staff of African Mental Health Foundation, Ruaraka Uhai Neema hospital and World Friends - Amici del Mondo for the collaboration throughout the research.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jean-Louis Aillon

    Present address: , Fraz. Excenex-meylan n. 1, Aosta, 11100, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. S.A.I.G.A. School of Individual Psychology for Psychotherapists, Via Principe Amedeo 16, 10123, Turin, Italy

    Jean-Louis Aillon

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    David M. Ndetei

  3. Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF), P.O. Box 48423, Nairobi, GPO, 00100, Kenya

    David M. Ndetei & Lincoln Khasakhala

  4. Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

    Washington Njogu Ngari

  5. Amici Del Mondo World Friends Onlus (NGO), Nairobi, Kenya

    Hesbon Otieno Achola & Selestine Akinyi

  6. Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Giovanni Battista di Torino, Turin, Italy

    Simone Ribero

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Correspondence to Jean-Louis Aillon.

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Aillon, JL., Ndetei, D.M., Khasakhala, L. et al. Prevalence, types and comorbidity of mental disorders in a Kenyan primary health centre. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 1257–1268 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0755-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0755-2

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