Profiles and outcome of traditional healing practices for severe mental illnesses in two districts of Eastern Uganda

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Theoretical framework.

Figure 2.  Showing summary of methods used in the the studies.

Table 1. Relationship between some socio-demographic variables and psychological distress of the respondents at traditional healers’ shrines

Variable	Distressed (%)	Not distressed (%)	P-value	OR (95% CI)
Married men (N=70)
More than one wife	23.0	78.0	0.001	0.20 [0.06–0.63]
Married women (N=126)
More than one co-wife	68.8	31.2	0.012	3.65 [1.38–10.98]
Number of children (N = 263)
> 4	76.9	23.1	< 0.001	3.00 [1.71–5.29]
Socio-economic indicators
Lack of food	90.3	9.7	0.001	2.25 [1.25–4.72]
Being in debt	84.3	15.7	0.002	2.52 [1.40–4.53]
Reasons for visiting Traditional healers	73.7	26.3	0.02	2.17 [1.33–3.34]
To get treatment and explanation
Kind of treatment	42.0	58.0	<0.001	0.28 [0.18–0.44]
Both traditional and modern
Duration of symptoms	69.6	30.4	0.032	1.65 [1.04–2.62]
More than 6 months

Table 2. Prevalence of (current) DSM–IV disorders of the attendees of traditional healing in Jinja and Iganga districts

Disorder (current)	Number (%) 95% CI
Major depressive disorder	21 (5.4) [3.87–8.15]
Mood disorder due to general medical condition	33 (8.5) [6.14–11.74]
Dysthymia	3 (0.7) [0.28–2.24]
Suicidal	15 (3.9) [2.37–6.30]
Anxiety disorders	22 (5.7) [3.79–8.46]
Mixed anxiety depression	14 (3.6) [2.18–5.98]
Mania	41 (10.6) [7.91–14.06]
Schizophrenia	28 (7.2) [5.06–10.26]
Psychotic depression	46 (12.4) [9.49–6.07]
Schizophreniform disorder	10 (2.6) [1.42-–4.69]

Table 3. Results of bivariate analysis of factors associated with caseness

	Three months follow-up				Six months follow-up
Variable	Cases N=61%	Non-cases N=40%	χ^2	P-value	Crude OR (95% CI)	Cases N=49%	Non–cases N=41%	χ^2	P-value	Crude OR (95% CI)
Sex
Male	50.81	65.00			0.44 (0.18–1.06)	55.10	36.59	2.38	0.120	2.13 (0.84–5.45)
Female	49.18	35	3.32	0.070		44.90	63.41
Marital status
Married	45.90	67.50			0.40 (0.16–1.01)	53.06	41.46			1.60 (0.64–4.02)
Not married	54.10	32.50	3.71	0.050		46.94	58.54	0.78	0.380
Employment
Employed	47.54	62.50	1.61	0.200	0.54 (0.12–1.32)	51.02	43.90			1.33 (0.53–3.34)
Not employed	52.46	37.50				49.98	56.10	0.21	0.640
Economic status
Earning <$1	73.77	30.00			6.56	57.14	29.27			3.22 (1.23–8.58)
Earning >$1	26.23	70.00	17.09	<0.001	(2.49–17.66)	42.86	70.73	5.94	0.010
Being in debt	63.93	37.50				58.18	31.71			3.12 (1.20–8.22)
Not being in debt	36.34	62.50	05.76	0.020	2.95 (1.20–7.37)	41.82	68.29	5.71	0.020
Age of onset
Below 18	67.21	25.00			6.15 (2.32–16.70)	61.22	24.39	10.82	0.001	4.89– (1.79–13.65)
Above 18	32.79	75.00	15.57	<0.001		38.78	75.61
Duration of symptoms
>3 months	36.07	70.00			0.24 (0.09–0.06)	57.14	31.71	5.25	0.020	2.97 (1.15-–7.78)
<3 months	63.93	30.00	9.81	0.002		42.86	70.73
Number of episodes
two or more	60.66	37.50			2.57 (1.05–6.36)	63.27	39.02	4.33	0.030	2.69 (1.05—6.95)
First episode	39.34	62.50	4.30	0.030		36.73	60.98
Family history
Positive	68.85	22.50	18.95	<0.001	7.61 (2.79–21.36)	59.18	29.27			3.50 (1.33–9.36)
Negative	31.15	77.50				40.82	70.73	6.89	0.008
Co morbidity
Two or more	62.30	25.00			4.96 (1.89–13.28)	59.18	29.27			3.50 (1.33–9.36)
Only disorder	37.70	75.00	12.08	0.001		40.82	70.73	6.89	0.008
Severity (GAF)
Moderate to severe	65.57	32.50	9.31	0.002	3.96 (1.57–10.13)	51.02	29.27	3.51	0.060	2.52 (0.96–6.66)
Mild	34.43	67.50				48.98	70.73
Treatment
Both	68.85	97.50	10.75	0.001	0.06 (0.00–0.43)	77.55	12.20	35.64	<0.001	24.87 (7.03–94.84)
Only Traditional healer or Western Medicine	31.15	2.50				22.45	87.80