Submission ID 130832
| Issue/Objective | Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant global health challenge. Despite the global burden of TB and the recognised importance of addressing mental health issues, there remains a gap in understanding the specific drivers of common mental health disorders (CMHD) among TB patients. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the key drivers of CMHD among TB-key vulnerable populations (TB-KVPs) in the Ashanti region, Ghana. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A cross-sectional study design was employed in sampling 302 TB-KVPs at some selected TB treatment centres in the Ashanti Region from September to October 2023. CMHD was evaluated using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, developed by the World Health Organization. In our study, multi-stakeholder TB engagement was done to prioritise individuals who are at high risk of TB. The TB-KVPs included rural poor individuals, children, informal miners, persons living with HIV (PLHIV), inmates and smokers. The lists of TB-KVPs who tested positive for TB were obtained from the selected TB treatment centres. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify the key drivers of CMHD among the TB-KVPs. |
| Results | The prevalence of CMHD was 13 (4.30%). TB-KVPs diagnosed with pulmonary TB (PTB) (β=1.41, CI=0.21, 2.61) and those reporting fair (β=2.40, CI=0.13, 4.67) and poor (β=7.06, CI=3.91, 10.20) health status exhibited higher mental health disorders. Conversely, cohabiting TB-KVPs (β=-1.54, CI=-2.85, -0.23) and those with treatment supporters (β=-0.92, CI=-1.72, -0.12) had lower CMHD scores. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Our study found a relatively low prevalence of common mental health disorders among TB-key vulnerable populations in the Ashanti Region. Significant drivers included type of TB (pulmonary TB), self-reported health status (fair or poor), presence of a treatment supporter, and cohabiting marital status. These findings highlight upstream social and health system factors shaping mental health outcomes, underscoring the need for integrated, equity-focused care. Policy implications align with Sub-theme 1, emphasizing strengthened governance, sustainable financing, and TB-mental health integration. Scalable strategies include embedding mental health screening in primary care, expanding community-based support, and reducing stigma through targeted public education. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Samuel Frimpong Odoom Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Solomon Idan University Health Services, University of Education, Winneba Michael Owusu Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Barbara Gariba Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Ebenezer Adangabe Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Alhaji Ibrahim Cobbinahh Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Nicholas Karkari Mensah Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Francis Adjei Osei Centre for Health Equity Research and Development Aliyu Mohammed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology |
