Title: Factors Contributing to The Relapse of Mental Illnesses Among Clients Attending the Mental Clinic at Kambuga Hospital.
Authors: Aine Amos,, Jane Frances Anyango Nahabwe Haven, and Gumisiriza Nolbert
Volume: 8
Issue: 7
Pages: 70-75
Publication Date: 2024/07/28
Abstract:
Relapses of mental illness have continued to be a global problem despite various treatment options instituted to lower down the burden of mental illnesses, relapses remain a great stumbling block in psychiatric care hindering the effectiveness of care to achieve complete recovery among patients. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors contributing to the relapse of symptoms among clients attending the mental health clinic at Kambuga Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study among 83 clients who were selected using a convenient sampling technique, data was collected using a researcher administered questionnaire, analyzed using Microsoft excel and presented inform of tables. Results revealed poverty (94%) and poor relationship with family caregivers (80%) as the most prevalent socio-economic factors contributing to relapses, among individual factors, lack of insight about the illness (81%), poor drug adherence (95%) and Alcohol and substance abuse (87%) were the significant individual factors contributed to relapses, the most mentioned health service factors were; major mental diagnosis (96%), Short duration of hospitalization (70%), high cost of services (75%), attitude of health workers (52%) and Unavailability of drugs (87%). Basing on the study findings, both socio- demographic, individual and health service factors by the respondents contributed to the relapse of mental illnesses with poverty and poor drug adherence being the most prevalent. Therefore, there is need to engage mentally ill clients in occupation therapy in order to eradicate poverty among clients as well as intensifying interventions to monitor patient's drug adherence during therapy.