Detection Of Psychiatric Disorders Among Adolescents Attending Primary Healthcare Facility In Kiambu County And Related Clinician Factors.
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Date
2019Author
Chege, Mercy Wanjiru
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Introduction. Adolescence is a period of physical growth spurt and extensive changes.
It is during this time that mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and thought disorders,
may first appear or become apparent. Studies have indicated that there is only a 4.1%
detection rate of psychiatric disorders by clinicians in primary health care facilities.
Aim: This study seeks to establish undetected psychiatric diagnosis among adolescents
attending primary health care facilities.
Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to determine the percentage of
undetected diagnosis of psychiatric disorders among youth attending a primary health care
facility.
The specific objectives were to determine; the prevalence and pattern of adolescent
psychiatric morbidity among adolescents attending Limuru rural health facility in Kiambu
County-Limuru Sub-County; determine the percentage of missed psychiatric diagnosis;
examine socio-demographic correlates of psychiatric disorders among adolescents; determine
perceived health care provider factors that lead to undetected psychiatric diagnosis and
establish government referral pathways
Methods:
The quantitative part of study used a cross-sectional design and was carried out in a rural
primary health care facility, in Kiambu County, Limuru Sub-County. A sample size of 300
adolescents was randomly sampled and included adolescents aged 11-21 years who met the
inclusion criteria. Data was collected over a period of 6 weeks using researcher developed
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sociodemographic questionnaire, MINI-KID tool, and researcher developed a semi-structured
clinician assessment tool.
Data Analysis: Descriptive and inferential analysis results was generated through SPSS
V.25. Data was presented through tables, charts, graphs, and narratives.
Results: The adolescents were aged between 11-21 years. Mean age was 16 years, standard
deviation 3, mode 12 and median 16 years. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 67%
according to MINI Kid. Clinicians were able to diagnose 9% of the adolescents with a
psychiatric disorder. There was no correlation between socio demographic factors and
detected psychiatric disorders.
The perceived clinician factors that contributed to undetected psychiatric diagnosis included
lack of adequate knowledge, Lack of communication skills, Time, Lack of assessment tools.
Most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was stress and psychosis.
Most clinicians did not give a psychiatric diagnosis if they suspected one
Conclusion:
The study concluded that there was a prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adolescents
attending primary health care facilities and the most prevalent psychiatric condition was
depression.
The study also found that the clinicians were not able to detect the psychiatric disorders and
there were variety of factors that led to the low detection rate among the clinicians
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Recommendation
Continuous medical education among health workers
Increase in health education on psychiatric disorders among patients attending outpatient
department
Mental health promotion among school going children through increase in school health
mental health activity
Training health workers on mental disorders and encouraging health workers to go back to
school.
Training community health workers/Volunteers on identification of psychological disorders
and referral system and also instilling them with psychological first aid skills.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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