Common mental disorder in Nyanza province, Kenya in 2013 and its associated risk factors –an assessment of change since 2004, using a repeat household survey in a demographic surveillance site

Abstract

BackgroundRepeat household surveys are useful to assess change in prevalence over time, but there have been no repeat surveys of common mental disorder (CMD) in Kenya, or indeed sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore a repeat household survey of CMD and its associated risk factors was conducted in Maseno area, Kisumu county in Kenya, using a demographic surveillance site as the sample frame, in order to test the hypotheses that (a) the prevalence of CMD would increase between 2004 and 2013 due to the intervening political, social and economic pressures; (b) as in 2004, there would be no gender difference in prevalence of CMD.MethodsOne thousand one hundred ninety households were selected, and 1158 adult participants consented to be interviewed with a structured epidemiological assessment while 32 refused to participate in the study interviews, giving a response rate of 97.3 %.ResultsThe study found that the overall prevalence of CMD in 2013 was 10.3 %. However, there were significantly higher rates of having any CMD in 2013 if one was female (OR 6.2, p < 0.001), divorced/widowed (OR 2.5, p < 0.003), aged over 60 (OR 2.3, p = 0.052), either self-employed (OR 3.3 p < 0.001) or employed (OR 3.3, p < 0.001), or belonged to the lowest asset quintile (OR 2.5, p = .0.004) after adjusting for other variables significant at the bivariate level. The overall prevalence in 2013 was consistent with that found in 2004, despite intervening political and community turbulence. However, this apparent consistency masks the development of a striking difference in prevalence between the genders. Over the decade 2004–13, the prevalence for men dropped from 10.9 to 3.8 % (P = 0.001) and the prevalence for women increased from 10.8 to 17.5 % (p = 0.001).ConclusionCommon mental disorders continue to pose a significant public health burden in Kenya, and gender related vulnerability merits further research and is relevant for health worker training.

Changes in prevalence of mental disorders among internally displaced persons in central Sudan: a 1-year follow-up study

“…household surveys of common mental disorders were completed in the same area in 2004 and 2013 (Jenkins et al, 2015). The studies found a stable albeit much lower rate of mental disorders than in the current study of 10.8% in 2004 and 10.3% in 2013.…”

Common mental disorder is associated with periodontitis

“…38,39 Given the sample size, it was possible during the calculation of the association measurement to adjust for confounder covariables, such as age, sex, family income, current smoking habits, alcoholic beverage consumption, and cardiovascular disease, in an attempt to neutralize their effect on the association under investigation. It is known that the prevalence of CMD varies according to age and sex, 5,40 as does periodontitis that increases in frequency and severity with age and is more prevalent among men. 41 Regarding socioeconomic condition, represented by family income, the frequency of CMD and periodontitis vary according to the distribution of income of the population.…”

“…Although quite frequent, it is difficult to characterize . In international studies, the prevalence of CMD ranged from 10.30% to 43.70% . Population surveys conducted in 59 countries revealed that one in five people had CMD within a period of 12 months.…”

“…2 In international studies, the prevalence of CMD ranged from 10.30% to 43.70%. [3][4][5] Population surveys conducted in 59 countries revealed that one in five people had CMD within a period of 12 months. The lifetime prevalence was estimated at 29.20%.…”

Community Perceptions of Indigenous Healers and Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe

“…The health experts estimate that a fourth of the Kenyan population of 44 million suffers from a range of the mental diseases, including the schizophrenia and the other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, depression and the severe anxiety [23]. However, Kenya has only about 80 psychiatrists and 30 clinical psychologists, fewer than its 500 psychiatric nurses, of which only 250 work in the mental health (Husain et al, 2016a).…”