BARRIERS TO THE UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA: THE GENDER IMPLICATIONS

T.I. Olawande¹*, A.S. Jegede², P.A. Edewor³, E.O. Amoo⁴ and M.P. Ajayi^5
1Dr.  Covenant University, NIGERIA, tomike.olawande@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
²Prof. University of Ibadan, NIGERIA sayjegede@yahoo.co.uk
³Prof. Covenant University, NIGERIA, patrick.edewor@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
⁴Dr. Covenant University, NIGERIA, emmanuel.amoo@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
⁵Dr. Covenant University, NIGERIA, mofoluwake.ajayi@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
*Corresponding Author: Tomike I. Olawande

Abstract

The ease of access to health facilities has been presented to be a major factor in the utilization of healthcare services in developing nations, especially Nigeria. The use of mental healthcare services is affected by many interacting factors which include, access, availability, gender referral practices and help-seeking preferences. Although studies exist on the utilization of mental healthcare services, little attention has been paid to gender differentials. This study therefore examined gender dimensions in the utilization of mental healthcare services in Southwestern, Nigeria. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were triangulated. The data was based on cross-sectional survey of communities and four neuropsychiatric hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria. Nine hundred and sixty seven (967) adults were randomly selected. Five In-depth Interviews were conducted among caregivers of people living with mental illness (PLWMI) (those who are receiving treatment and those who have recovered) and nineteen Key Informant Interviews were conducted among orthodox practitioners (psychiatrists and social workers) and traditional healers that reside in the study area. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data were content analyzed. Findings from this study showed that the average age of respondents was 22.2 years. Out of the total, 52.2 percent of the respondents were female while 45.8 percent were male gender. On the utilization of mental healthcare services, 26.4% and 73.6% of male and female respondents indicated that finance was major hindrance to the utilization of mental healthcare services. From the Study, one can conclude that women are more intone with the reality of the disease condition in their dependants as they bear more of both the financial (73.6%) and emotional burden of managing People Living with Mental Illness (PLWMI).

Keywords: Gender differentials, Mental illness, Utilization, Mental healthcare services, Ogun State