Barriers to the Utilization of Mental Healthcare Services in South West, Nigeria: Gender Implications
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Universita tde BARCELONA
Abstract
Description
Ease of access to healthcare facilities was presented as a major factor in
the use of healthcare services in developing countries, particularly Nigeria.
Many interacting factors, including access, availability, gender referral
practices, and help-seeking preferences, affect the use of mental healthcare
services. Although there are studies on the use of mental health services,
gender differentials have received little attention. Therefore, this study
examined gender dimensions in the use of mental health services in
South West, Nigeria, using triangulated qualitative and quantitative data
collection methods. The data were based on a cross-sectional community
survey and four neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria’s Ogun State. The
sample was 967 randomly selected adults. Five in-depth interviews were
conducted among caregivers of mentally ill persons (PLWMI) residing
in the study area (those receiving treatment and those recovering). Using
descriptive and inferential statistics, quantitative data were analyzed
while content was analyzed. Results from this study showed that the
respondents’ average age was 22.2 years. Of the total, 52.2 percent were
female, while 45.8 percent were male. On the use of mental health services,
26.4 percent and 73.6 percent of male and female respondents, respectively,
indicated that the use of mental health services was hampered
by funding. From the study, it can be concluded that women are more
intoned with the reality of their dependents’ disease condition as they
bear more of both the financial (73.6 percent) and emotional burden of
managing people living with mental illness (PLWMI).
Keywords
BF Psychology, H Social Sciences (General)