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Common mental disorders in primary care in Harare, Zimbabwe: Associations and risk factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Vikram Patel ,
Charles Todd ,
Mark Winston ,
Fungisai Gwanzura ,
Essie Simunyu ,
Wilson Acuda  and
Anthony Mann
Vikram Patel*
Affiliation:
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Charles Todd
Affiliation:
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Mark Winston
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists Research Unit, London, and St Tydfil's Hospital, Wales
Fungisai Gwanzura
Affiliation:
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Essie Simunyu
Affiliation:
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Wilson Acuda
Affiliation:
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Anthony Mann
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
Dr Vikram Patel, Sangath Society, 35 Defence Colony, Alto-Porvorim, Goa 403521, India. Fax: +91 832 228566
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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to investigate the associations for common mental disorders (CMD) among primary care attenders in Harare.

Method

This was an unmatched case-control study of attenders at primary health clinics, general practitioner surgeries and traditional medical practitioner clinics; 199 cases with CMD as identified by an indigenously developed case-finding questionnaire, and 197 controls (non-cases), were interviewed using measures of sociodemographic data, disability, care-giver diagnoses and treatment, explanatory models, life events and alcohol use.

Results

CMD was associated with female gender (.=0.04) and older age (.=0.02). After adjustment for age, gender and site of recruitment, CMD was significantly associated with chronicity of illness; number of presenting complaints; beliefs in “thinking too much” and witchcraft as a causal model; economic impoverishment; infertility; recent unemployment; an unhappy childhood for females; disability; and consultations with traditional medical practitioners and religious priests.

Conclusions

Mental disorders are associated with female gender, disability, economic deprivation, and indigenous labels of distress states.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 1 , July 1997 , pp. 60 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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