Psychotic Symptoms in Kenya – Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Relationship with Common Mental Disorders

Rachel Jenkins, Frank Njenga, Marx Okonji, Pius Kigamwa, Makheti Baraza, James Ayuyo, Nicola Singleton, Sally McManus and David Kiima
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Rachel Jenkins: Director, WHO Collaborating Centre (Mental Health), Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, PO 35, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
Frank Njenga: Consultant Psychiatrist, Upper Hill Medical Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Marx Okonji: Consultant Psychiatrist, The Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Pius Kigamwa: Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Makheti Baraza: Ministry of Health, Survey Department, Nairobi, Kenya
James Ayuyo: Mildmay International, Kisumu, Kenya
Nicola Singleton: Director of Policy & Research, UK Drug Policy Commission, London, UK
Sally McManus: Research Director, National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), London, UK
David Kiima: Director of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Kenya

IJERPH, 2012, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: There have been few epidemiological surveys to establish prevalence and associated risk factors of psychosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reports a population- based epidemiological survey in rural Kenya of the prevalence of psychotic symptoms and their relationship with demographic, socio-economic and other risk factors. A random sample of 2% of all adults living in Maseno, Kisumu District of Nyanza province, Kenya (50,000 population) were studied, aiming for a sample size of 1,000 people. The psychosis screening questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in the preceding twelve months. The response rate was 87.6%. The prevalence of single psychotic symptoms in rural Kenya was 8% of the adult population, but only 0.6% had two symptoms and none had three or more psychotic symptoms in this sample size. Psychotic symptoms were evenly distributed across this relatively poor rural population and were significantly associated with presence of common mental disorders, and to a lesser extent with poor physical health and housing type. We conclude that single psychotic symptoms are relatively common in rural Kenya and rates are elevated in those with CMD, poor physical health and poor housing.

Keywords: epidemiology; Kenya; psychosis; development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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