Abstract:
Introduction: To comply with its new mental health
bill, Ghana needs to integrate mental health within other
health and social services. Mental disorders represent
9% of disease burden in Ghana. Women are more
affected by common mental disorders, and are underrepresented
in treatment settings. This study examines
physical and social correlates of mental illness in adult
women in Accra, Ghana, so as to inform general clinical
practice and health policy.
Methods: The SF-36 and K6 forms and 4 psychosis
questions were administered in three languages to
2,814 adult women living in Accra, as part of a larger
cross-sectional population-based survey of women’s
health. The validity of these tools was assessed through
correlations within and between measures. Risk factors
for mental distress were analysed using multivariate
regression. Health service use was also described using
statistical frequencies.
Results: Both the SF36 and K6 appear valid in a female
Ghanaian population. Low levels of education,
poverty and unemployment are negatively associated
with mental health. Physical ill health is also associated
with mental distress. No association was found between
mental distress and religion or ethnicity. Some
additional risk factors were significant for one, but not
both of the outcome variables. Only 0.4% of women
reported seeing a mental health professional in the previous
year, whereas 58.6% had visited a health centre.
Conclusion: The implications for women are that marriage
is neither good nor bad for mental health, but
education and employment are strong protective factors.
Researchers should note that the SF36 and K6 can
be used in a Ghanaian population, however more research
is needed to determine the cut-off point for serious mental illness on the K6, as well as research into
mental disorders in a mixed-gender population.