Table 3 Factors associated with Mental Distress as identified by the informants
Category of factor | Frequency | Symptoms/comments |
|---|---|---|
Worries about money | 51 | Concerns about rent, day-to-day living, school fees |
Problems of the mind | 47 | Recurrent headaches, sleeplessness, unhappiness, trouble thinking, loss of appetite, night mares |
Unknown cause of symptoms | 32 | Most common among informants not acknowledging symptoms as an illness or as mental distress, suggested witchcraft |
Relationship with spouse and family members | 26 | Commonest among women, included crying more than usual, unhappiness, headaches, sleeplessness. |
Ill health | 24 | Sleeplessness, daily life suffering, inability to play useful role in life, tiredness |
Low self-esteem | 16 | Worthlessness, loss of interest, unhappiness, crying more than usual, difficulty enjoying daily activities, experience of stigma |
Recent life events | 6 | Bereavement, divorces, newly diagnosed with chronic disease including HIV. Included symptoms of restlessness, sleeplessness, trouble thinking, headache, unhappiness |