UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE BY ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL AND THEIR CARETAKERS AT MAINA SOKO MEDICAL CENTRE, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Authors

  • Major Gilbert Changwe Defence School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Marjory Kabinga Makukula Department of Nursing Education, School Of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Kestone Lyambai Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Jamia Milanzi Department of Nursing Sciences, Mulungushi University, Kabwe, Zambia
  • Kelvin Kapungu Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v6i1.144

Keywords:

stigma, combat exposure, knowledge, social support, utilization of mental health services

Abstract

Globally, mental health is recognized as an important component of health, despite it being one of the most neglected conditions in the health sector. In many cases, people seek out a mental health expert only after a crisis has occurred. The aim of the study was to determine the factors affecting the utilization of mental health services in the Zambia defence force in Lusaka at Maina Soko medical centre in Lusaka district. The study was conducted among patients, family members and members of staff from Maina Soko Medical Centre. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Firstly, a pilot study was carried out at Arakan Garrison Hospital in Lusaka before conducting the actual study. A simple random sampling method was used to select 167 study participants. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data for all the respondents were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software (SPSS). Using SPSS, frequency tables, pie charts and cross-tabulations were carried out to determine special relationships between dependent and independent variables. A chi-square test was carried out to test associations among variables. With the confidence interval set at 95 percent, the P-value was used to ascertain the degree of significance by using the decision rule which rejects the null hypothesis if P-value is equal or less than that of 0.05. The findings revealed that 86 percent of the respondents who had no knowledge about mental health services never utilized mental health services (p value 0.011), 73 percent of respondents who had no social support never utilized mental health services (p value 0.020), 80 percent with moderate combat exposure utilized mental health services (p-value 0.039) and 88 percent revealed the emotional challenges they face due to stigma and hence compromise on seeking mental health services (p-value 0.066). Overall, the findings have important implications for research policy and programme efforts towards improved utilization of mental health services and designing interventions to mitigate mental illness and its determinants.

Author Biographies

  • Major Gilbert Changwe, Defence School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia

    Maj Gilbert Changwe is a student at the University of Zambia, pursuing his master’s in mental health and psychiatry nursing. His research interest is in mental health and psychiatric care.

  • Marjory Kabinga Makukula, Department of Nursing Education, School Of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

    Marjorie Kabinga Makukula (PhD) is a lecturer and researcher working at the University of Zambia in the School of Nursing Sciences. Her research focus is education

    for health professionals, community health, health systems, chronic care and palliative

    care.

  • Kestone Lyambai, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

    Kestone Lyambai is a lecturer and researcher working at the University of Zambia. His research interest is in adolescent mental health, addictive behaviours and HIV/AIDS.

  • Jamia Milanzi, Department of Nursing Sciences, Mulungushi University, Kabwe, Zambia

    Jamia Milanzi is a lecturer and researcher working at the Mulungushi University, kabwe, Zambia. Her research interest is in mental health and psychiatry.

  • Kelvin Kapungu, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia

    Kelvin Kapungu is a Public Health Services Researcher at Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia. His research interest is in understanding people’s beliefs towards health interventions and how they affect access to healthcare.

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Published

2023-02-26

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2023)

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Articles

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How to Cite

UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE BY ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL AND THEIR CARETAKERS AT MAINA SOKO MEDICAL CENTRE, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. (2023). European Journal of Public Health Studies, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v6i1.144