Journal of Clinical Sciences (Jan 2019)

Depression-related knowledge, attitude, and help-seeking behavior among residents of Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

  • Chinenye C Egwuonwu,
  • Oluchi J Kanma-Okafor,
  • Adedoyin O Ogunyemi,
  • Hammed O Yusuf,
  • Joseph D Adeyemi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/jcls.jcls_90_18
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 2
pp. 49 – 56

Abstract

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Context: Worldwide, depression leads among the causes of ill-health and disability. Therefore, it is a major public health concern. Aim: This study was carried out to determine depression-related knowledge, attitude, and help-seeking behavior among residents of Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos state, Nigeria. Settings and Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 422 respondents were recruited using the multistage sampling technique. Subjects and Methods: An adapted, pretested, semi-structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using EPI Info Version 7 statistical software. Results: The proportion of respondents with depressive symptoms such as loss of interest in usual activities was 30.6%. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of depression (90.0%), positive attitude (93.2%), and good help-seeking behavior (87.9%) toward depression. Marital status was not significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. However, there was a statistically significant association between employment status and the presence of depressive symptoms (P = 0.001) and the help-seeking behavior toward depression (P = 0.013); the level of education on the other hand showed a statistically significant association with both knowledge and attitude (P = 0.003, P ≤ 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Most of the respondents had good knowledge, positive attitude, and good help-seeking behavior toward depression; however, mental health services may not be readily available. There is therefore a need to ensure the availability of good mental health services as well as public enlightenment on where and how to access these services. These can prove very useful in tackling the rising prevalence of mental health disorders.

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