Determinants of mental illness and care seeking behaviours in Northern Haiti: an assessment of demographic, social, and religio-cultural factors among patients at the first mental health clinic in the region

ABSTRACT Populations in countries such as Haiti demonstrate a high level of need for mental health care despite a lack of services and trained professionals. In addition to the dearth of biomedical services, local belief systems and explanatory models contribute to a majority of the population relying on traditional medicine as their first option for care. Using a mixed-methods approach, we aim to characterise mental illness at the first mental health clinic in the region – Sant Sante Mantal Mòn Pele (SSMMP) – by interviewing 96 patients with a demographic questionnaire as well as Anxiety, Depression, and Functionality Scales. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were conducted examining the impact of demographic variables on whether patients believed their illness was caused by sent spirits or previously visited a Vodou priest for treatment, as well as Depression, Anxiety, and Functionality Scale scores. Factors associated with mental illness in this sample included sex, number of traumatic events, physical health status, and number of sessions attended at SSMMP. Factors which impacted traditional beliefs or practices related to mental illness included sex, age, and income.