Mental health problems in women attending district-level services in South Africa.
Various sociodemographic and clinical variables pertaining to women using district-level clinical psychology services in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa were examined. During the year 2004, a total of 422 women accessed this service. Over one-third had relationship problems, 21% depression, and 14% suicidal behaviour. Nearly half the women reported significant financial problems. Of the 174 married (or cohabiting) women, 94.8% experienced relationship problems, 56.9% reported substance-abusing partners, and 48.3% reported violent partners, and 51.1% perceived their partners as disengaged while 37% viewed them as oppressive. Clinician estimates revealed notably low self-esteem in 65% of the women. We conclude that mental health services and training programmes need to become more cognisant of gender issues to develop gender-sensitive interventions.
Department of Behavioural Medicine, Midlands Hospital and University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. h020870@dohho.kzntl.gov.za
Anthony L
AL
Pillay
Anita J
AJ
Kriel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires