Factors contributing to increased relapses among mentally ill patients attending mental health unit at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital

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Date
2017-10
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Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Relapse in mental illnesses is a major clinical event globally (Moran, M, 2009). There is insufficient knowledge regarding readmissions due to relapses or how best to solve the problem, given the scarcity of human and material resources (Salleh Mohad, 2010). Similarly at Kampala international university, overwhelming numbers in psychiatry department have been contributed by relapses. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study employed convenient purposive sampling to assess social-economic, psychiatry and other medical conditions as well as personal and community factors associated to relapses among the mentally ill patients that had had an episode of relapse who were in the unit. The results from the study indicated that; male clients were majority (59.7%), mean age group was 20-40 %( 52.7%). Social economic factors associated with relapses include single (56.9%) and divorce 23.6%. relapsing patients reported poor relationships with their family members (51.3%). Relapsing was common in low social depicted by peasants (77.7%), semi-permanent house (54.1%) and affording 2 meals per day. Working hours were long 7-12(70.8%) and earning is less <100,001(73.5%). Majority (59.7%) did not have social group. patients with thought disorders relapses (36.1%) followed by bipolar disorders (26.3%), while other conditions associated with relapses were HIV (33.3%) and Malaria (16.6%). Patient diagnoses 3-4years relapsed highly (36.1%) and so were those that did not have insight about their previous illness (56.9%). 59.8% of those that relapsed had poor adherence to treatment, major reason for poor adherence (44.2%) being when the symptoms subsided, and also alcohol abuse (38.8%). Patients (52.2%) freely socialized with community members before they relapsed, however, (97.2%) mental health care in their communities...
Description
A research report submitted to Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Diploma in Nursing Sciences
Keywords
Mentally ill patients, Kampala International University Teaching Hospital
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