Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................. ii
COPY RIGHT.............................................................................................................................................. iii
Copyright...................................................................................................................................................... iii
AUTHORIZATION..................................................................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... vi
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ vii
List of Figures............................................................................................................................................... x
List of Tables................................................................................................................................................ xi
DEFINITION OF TERMS.......................................................................................................................... xii
ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background of the study .........................................................................................................................1
1.2 Problem Statement ..................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Objective of the study ................................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 Main Objectives...................................................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Specific Objectives...............................................................................................................................3
1.3.3 Research questions...............................................................................................................................4
1.4 Significance of the study.........................................................................................................................4
1.4.1Nursing Research ..................................................................................................................................4
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1.4.2 Nursing Education................................................................................................................................4
1.4.3 Nursing Practice ...................................................................................................................................5
1.5 Justification of the study .........................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Knowledge on mental illness among community members....................................................................6
2.2 Practices towards mental illness among community members...............................................................8
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................10
3.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................10
3.2 Study Design and rationale ...................................................................................................................10
3.3 Study setting and rationale ....................................................................................................................10
3.4 Study Population ...................................................................................................................................11
3.4.1 Sample Size........................................................................................................................................12
3.4.2 Sampling procedure............................................................................................................................12
3.4.3 Inclusion criteria.................................................................................................................................12
3.5 Definition of Variables..........................................................................................................................13
3.6 Research Instruments............................................................................................................................13
3.7 Data Collection Procedure ....................................................................................................................13
3.7.1 Data management...............................................................................................................................13
3.7.2 Data analysis and presentation ...........................................................................................................14
3.7.3 Pilot Study..........................................................................................................................................14
3.8 Ethical Considerations...........................................................................................................................14
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3.9 Limitation of the study ..........................................................................................................................14
3.10 Dissemination of results......................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION.............................................................16
4.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................16
4.3 Section B: Knowledge of community members about mental illness...................................................17
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND NURSING
IMPLICATIONS.........................................................................................................................................25
5.0Introduction............................................................................................................................................25
5.1 Discussion. ............................................................................................................................................25
5.2 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................28
5.3 Recommendations.................................................................................................................................29
Recommendations to the Ministry of Health ..............................................................................................29
Recommendations for health workers in Buwenge Town Council.............................................................29
Recommendations for community members in BuwengeTown Council....................................................29
5.4 Implications to nursing practice ............................................................................................................30
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................31
Appendix I: Consent Form..........................................................................................................................35
Appendix III: Introductory Letter ...............................................................................................................41
Appendix IV:Map of Uganda showing Jinja district...................................................................................42
Appendix V: Map showing BuwengeTown Council ..................................................................................43
ABSTRACT.
Introduction A study was carried out in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District with the purpose of assessing the knowledge and practices on mental illness among community members. A descriptive cross sectional study design and quantitative in nature was used. Convenient sampling method was used to recruit 40 respondents for the interview. Results indicates that general knowledge on the causes of mental illness was poor as majority 32(82.5%) attributed to witch craft and 30(70%) attributed to curses as the major causes of mental illness. However, respondents had a good knowledge on the signs and symptoms of mental illness as most 30(75%) mentioned talking to self and destruction respectively as the signs of mental illness and knowledge on the preventive measures was also good with majority 33(82.5%) of the respondents said proper treatment of infections and 30(75%) mentioned avoiding alcoholism and drug abuse as one of the preventive measures of mental illness. Although most respondents had a good level of knowledge about mental illness, this was not adequately translated into good practices towards mental illness, and most poor practices included 18 (45%) of respondents recommended discriminating mentally sick people, 9 (22.5%) isolating mentally sick people from others and 6(15%) recommended denial of jobs. Conclusion In conclusion, the study found out that although most community members in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District possessed some knowledge about the true causes of mental illness. This was not adequately translated into good practices. The key recommendations included provision of community outreach and sensitization on mental illness as well as increasing use of hospitals for screening and treatment of mental illness.