Psychiatric morbidity in a gynaecology out-patient clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi
Abstract
The ma in objective of this study is to survey and show the
aetiology and presentation of psychiatric morbidity among female
patients attending a gynaecology out-patient clinic at Kenyatta
National Hospital (KNH).
There is evidence from literature review that research in this
field is scanty in Kenya. From the literature review, women are
likely to develop neurotic disorders such as depressive episodes,
anxieties or somatization.
This prospective study covered 150 cases of female patients
attending a gynaecology out-patient clinic. Using a two stage
screening procedure the self Rating Questionnaire and the
standardized Psychiatric Interview) the subjects were interviewed
by the author. The data collected were analysed statistically with
the help of a statistician.
Psychiatric morbidity was 19.5% (29 cases of the total 150 cases
interviewed). Those with Psycho-neuroses were 18% while only 1.5%
had psychosis.
Patients who had a positive history of mental illness amongst
family members showed a significantly higher psychiatric morbidity
as compared to patients who had no history of mental illness
amongst their family members.
The study also revealed that patients who had a positive history of
alcohol ingestion had a significantly higher psychiatric morbidity
than those with no history of alcohol ingestion. Other variables
tested were not statistically significant.
The gynaecology out-patient clinic at KNH handles about 50 patients
on a typical clinic day.
The study revealed that many of the patients had a psychological
component which was not attended to. A holistic approach that
integrates psycho logical support into the total patient care is
therefore formulated and recommended.
Citation
Masters of Medicine (Psychiatry)Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine