Level of community mental health literacy in sub-Saharan Africa: Current studies are limited in number, scope, spread, and cognizance of cultural nuances.
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| Title: | Level of community mental health literacy in sub-Saharan Africa: Current studies are limited in number, scope, spread, and cognizance of cultural nuances. |
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| Authors: | Atilola, Olayinka (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. Feb2015, Vol. 69 Issue 2, p93-101. 9p. |
| Subjects: | Pathological psychology, Health literacy, Mental health, Mental health services, MEDLINE |
| Geographic Terms: | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Abstract: | Background: The combination of high prevalence of mental disorders and the scarcity of resources to care for them in sub-Saharan Africa underscores the need for good mental health literacy as a potential mental health resource. Aim: To conduct a systematic review of the findings of studies that have examined aspects of mental health literacy among community dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A search was conducted using local and international indexes like MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychInfo. Results: Only 19 studies from eight different countries met inclusion criteria. Key aspects of the functional mental health literacy that has been examined include recognition of mental disorders, knowledge about causation, and treatment preferences. The modes of seeking mental health information are yet to be examined. Some studies utilized a methodology that allowed for respondents to use local labels to describe their understanding of various mental disorders. Otherwise, respondents were largely unable to label orthodox psychiatry syndromes correctly. Supernatural and ultra-human views were rampant, and alternative mental health services were mostly preferred. Quantitative modes of assessment were the most common, and authors-especially those that adopted this mode of assessment-did not take full cognizance of socio-cultural underpinnings of the concept of mental health literacy in their conclusion and recommendations. Conclusion: There is need for more studies to adopt more comprehensive approaches to the assessment of mental health literacy. The outcomes of such studies will provide the right context for making profound statements on the level of knowledge and skills for mental health promotion in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Nordic Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 100144584 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Level of community mental health literacy in sub-Saharan Africa: Current studies are limited in number, scope, spread, and cognizance of cultural nuances. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Atilola%2C+Olayinka%22">Atilola, Olayinka</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nordic+Journal+of+Psychiatry%22">Nordic Journal of Psychiatry</searchLink>. Feb2015, Vol. 69 Issue 2, p93-101. 9p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pathological+psychology%22">Pathological psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+literacy%22">Health literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+services%22">Mental health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22MEDLINE%22">MEDLINE</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sub-Saharan+Africa%22">Sub-Saharan Africa</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background: The combination of high prevalence of mental disorders and the scarcity of resources to care for them in sub-Saharan Africa underscores the need for good mental health literacy as a potential mental health resource. Aim: To conduct a systematic review of the findings of studies that have examined aspects of mental health literacy among community dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A search was conducted using local and international indexes like MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychInfo. Results: Only 19 studies from eight different countries met inclusion criteria. Key aspects of the functional mental health literacy that has been examined include recognition of mental disorders, knowledge about causation, and treatment preferences. The modes of seeking mental health information are yet to be examined. Some studies utilized a methodology that allowed for respondents to use local labels to describe their understanding of various mental disorders. Otherwise, respondents were largely unable to label orthodox psychiatry syndromes correctly. Supernatural and ultra-human views were rampant, and alternative mental health services were mostly preferred. Quantitative modes of assessment were the most common, and authors-especially those that adopted this mode of assessment-did not take full cognizance of socio-cultural underpinnings of the concept of mental health literacy in their conclusion and recommendations. Conclusion: There is need for more studies to adopt more comprehensive approaches to the assessment of mental health literacy. The outcomes of such studies will provide the right context for making profound statements on the level of knowledge and skills for mental health promotion in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Nordic Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=100144584 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3109/08039488.2014.947319 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 9 StartPage: 93 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Pathological psychology Type: general – SubjectFull: Health literacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental health Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental health services Type: general – SubjectFull: MEDLINE Type: general – SubjectFull: Sub-Saharan Africa Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Level of community mental health literacy in sub-Saharan Africa: Current studies are limited in number, scope, spread, and cognizance of cultural nuances. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Atilola, Olayinka IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2015 Type: published Y: 2015 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 08039488 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 69 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry Type: main |
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