Mental health symptoms among homeless shelter residents during COVID-19 lockdown in Tshwane, South Africa.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
; 15(1): e1-e8, 2023 Apr 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2304230
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa during the national state of emergency, the Gauteng Department of Social Development established temporary shelters and activated existing facilities to provide basic needs to street-homeless people in Tshwane, which facilitated primary health care service-delivery to this community.AIM:
This study aimed to determine and analyse the prevalence of mental health symptoms and demographic characteristics among street-homeless people living in Tshwane's shelters during lockdown.SETTING:
Homeless shelters set up in Tshwane during level 5 of the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa.METHODS:
A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)-based questionnaire that looked at 13 mental health symptom domains.RESULTS:
Presence of moderate-to-severe symptoms were reported among the 295 participants as follows substance use 202 (68%), anxiety 156 (53%), personality functioning 132 (44%), depression 85 (29%), sleep problems 77 (26%), somatic symptoms 69 (23%), anger 62 (21%), repetitive thoughts and behaviours 60 (20%), dissociation 55 (19%), mania 54 (18%), suicidal ideation 36 (12%), memory 33 (11%) and psychosis 23 (8%).CONCLUSION:
A high burden of mental health symptoms was identified. Community-oriented and person-centred health services with clear care-coordination pathways are required to understand and overcome the barriers street-homeless people face in accessing health and social services.Contribution This study determined the prevalence of mental health symptoms within the street-based population in Tshwane, which has not previously been studied.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ill-Housed Persons
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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