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Asnakew S, Haile K, Kassa BG, Ayehu GW, Beyene GM, Feleke DG, Endalew DG, Legas G, Munie BM, Tedila A, Shiferaw K, Belete A, Chanie ES, Aytenew TM. Patterns of help-seeking behavior among people with mental illness in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1361092. [PMID: 38563032 PMCID: PMC10982478 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the availability of evidence-based and effective treatments, significant numbers of people living with mental illness do not receive treatment or do not seek help from providers of formal modern treatment. Although numerous primary studies have been conducted on patterns of help-seeking behavior among individuals with mental illness with respect to modern therapy, the evidence has not been aggregated nationwide. Therefore, the aim of this review was to investigate pooled data on patterns of help-seeking behavior among individuals with mental illness in Ethiopia. Methods All available primary studies were searched via the Google Scholar, HINARI, and PubMed databases from June 22 to December 20, 2023; 912 articles were identified. Sixteen articles were included in the final review; data from them were extracted to an Excel spreadsheet and exported to Stata version 17 for analysis. The search terms used were: "Pattern of help-seeking behavior'' OR "Pattern of treatment-seeking behavior" OR "Health care-seeking behavior" OR "Help-seeking intention" OR "Help-seeking preferences" OR "Perceived need" OR "Pathways to psychiatric care", AND "Common mental disorders" OR "Mental illness" OR "Mental health problems" OR "Depression", AND "Predictors" OR "Determinate factors" OR "Associated factors", AND "Ethiopia". The quality of the studies included was critically appraised using the modified The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool, adapted for observational studies. During critical appraisal, disagreements between the two authors conducting the assessment were resolved by the involvement of a third author. Effect sizes were pooled using the random effects model, and the presence of publication bias was detected based on asymmetry of the funnel plot and a statistically significant result of Egger's test (p<0.05). Results The pooled rate of positive help-seeking behavior with respect to modern treatment among people living with mental illness was 42.21% (95% CI: 29.29, 55.12; I2 = 99.37%, P=0.00). Factors significantly associated with a positive pattern of help-seeking behavior were: having a secondary education or above (AOR=5.47, 95% CI: 2.33, 12.86); believing that mental illness requires treatment (AOR=2.76, 95% CI: 2.02, 3.78); having strong social support (AOR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.64, 2.44); having a family history of mental illness (AOR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.97); having awareness of the availability of treatment (AOR=2.92, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.46); having previously engaged in positive help-seeking behavior (AOR=3.28, 95% CI: 1.63, 6.60); having comorbid disorders (AOR=4.25, 95% CI: 1.69, 10.66); not using alcohol (AOR=3.29, 95% CI: 1.73, 6.27); and the perceived severity of mental illness (AOR=2.54, 95% CI: 1.490, 4.33). Conclusions The majority of people with mental illness in Ethiopia exhibited a poor pattern of help-seeking behavior with respect to modern treatment. Therefore, mobilization of the community should be encouraged via regular public awareness campaigns regarding mental illness and the availability of evidence-based and effective modern treatment in Ethiopia. Moreover, the design of effective community-based mental health interventions is recommended in order to improve public attitudes and rates of help-seeking behavior in relation to mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sintayehu Asnakew
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Kalkidan Haile
- Department of Psychiatry, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahirdar, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Getnet Kassa
- Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Gashaw Wale Ayehu
- Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Getnet Mihretie Beyene
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Dejen Getaneh Feleke
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | | | - Getasew Legas
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Birhanu Mengist Munie
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Assasahegn Tedila
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Kirubel Shiferaw
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Amsalu Belete
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Sisay Chanie
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Tigabu Munye Aytenew
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
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