Abstract:
Background: Mental neurological and substance use disorders are prevalent in all regions of the
world. The prevalence of mental illness in Somaliland is relatively high
. Despite this high burden, there is lack of mental health proffesional and psychotropic
medications available in the general health institutions. This situation legitimately warrant
provision of mental health by non mental health professionals which inturns need assessment of
the knowledge and attitude of the general health professionals towards mental illness.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of health workers towards
mental illness in Hargeisa city, Somaliland.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was implemented among 7 health centers and
two hospitals in October 2013 at Hargeisa Somaliland. The institutions were selected by simple
random sampling technique. Structured questionnair was distributed to all health workers. The
data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 for windows. Simple frequency distribution, bi-variate
and multi-variate logistic regressions were computed to see and identify independently
associated factors. P-value <0.05 was declared as statistically significant.
Results: Of the total participants, 131 (44.4%) of the health workers were considered to have
adequate knowledge. About 242 (82.0%) health workers had favorable positive attitude towards
mental illness and mental health service. Female health workers were less knowledgeable than
male health workers with AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: {0.28-0.97}. Degree level graduates were more
knowledgeable than Diploma level with {AOR: 7.02, 95%CI: 3.5-13.7}. Non physicians were
less knowledgeable than physicians, like Nurses {COR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.02-0.108}, Midwives
{COR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.17-0.12}, Pharmacy {COR: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.05-0.06}, Health Officers,
{COR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.20-0.30} and laboratory {COR: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.05}. Health
workers who did not take psychiatry course were less knowledgeable than those who did AOR:
0.22, (0.89-0.57).
Conclusion: The study revealed that majority of the health workers had inadequate knowledge
but positive attitude towards mental illness and mental health service.
Recommendation: Providing in-service mental health training and supportive supervision of
health workers is critical to improve the situation
