EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MBALE REGIONAL REFERAL HOSPITAL MBALE CITY

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2025-08-19

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Uganda Christian University

Abstract

The research study concentrated on effect of socio-economic factors on access to mental health services in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale City. I used a descriptive research methodology and it considered a sample size of 80 respondents. Study findings revealed the following: First and fore most study findings revealed that lower educational level is associated with poor access to mental health services , that lower mental health services utilization is associated with attitudinal reasons such as stigma surrounding mental health illnesses, that mental health under utilization is associated with low educational levels. Additionally in line with the second objective, study findings revealed that: Poverty is consistently linked with poor and increased risk for psychological disorders among adults and their children, that there is a relationship between middle income families with lower specialist treatment and that access to psychologist services is more frequent in those with high incomes as compared to those with low incomes. Conclusively in line with the third objective, study findings revealed that intervention on multiple aspects of mental health is a measure for improving access to mental health services, that providing people with factual information through education is an effective way for improving mental health service utilization and lastly that adopting approaches with care and modifying them to poor countries for effective use can improve mental health services utilization. Study findings concluded that: Mental health service under utilization is associated with low educational levels, that lower mental health service utilization is associated with attitudinal reasons such as stigma surrounding mental health, that lower educational level is associated with poor access to mental health services, that poverty is consistently linked with poor and increased risk for psychological disorders among adults and their children and lastly that intervention on multiple aspects of mental health is a measure for improving access to mental health services. The study further recommended that: There should be more investments by different Governments in a number of strategies to ensure effective access to mental health services, that there is need to sensitize the community and people about the major causes of mental health illnesses, and how they can be managed and prevented, and lastly that there is need for people to be educated about the dangers associated with stereotyping on the causes of mental health.

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