The factors affectıng mental health status of people attendıng famıly health centers

Abstract

Objective: Health care providers working in Family Health Centers (FHC) have important duties for people about maintaining a spiritually healthy life. This study was carried out to determine mental health and its relationship with socio-demographic factors in individuals who came to FHC.

Methods: This cross-sectional study took place in the FHC in the central province of Yozgat, in 2013. People who volunteered were informed about the study. 487 participants, age 18 and older, participated in this study. A socio-demographic data form and the General Health Questionnaire Short form (GHQ-12) were used to collect the data. The validity and reliability of the GHQ12 in Turkish was investigated by Kilic (1996). Scores of 2 and higher point to psychological distress. For the data analyses; ttest, chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used.

Results: Participants took an average of 2.38 ± 2.92 scores from The GHQ-12. %47.6 (% 13.3≥6 points) of those received 2 or more points that can be risky mental health. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis; the likelihood of having risky mental health problems were 1.70 (95% CI, 1.13-2.55) times higher in women than in men, 2.25 (95% CI, 1.42-3.57) times higher in people having health problems than without, 5.34 (95% CI, 1.07-26.57) times higher in smokers than without any dependence, 9.05 (95% CI, 1.80-45.43) times alcohol/ other drug users than without any dependence. People with poor and modest economic status were at higher risk for mental health problems than higher status respectively 3.75 (95% CI, 1.72-8.15) and 1.55 (95% CI, 1.04-2.33) times higher. Age, educational level and marital status have no significant effect on mental health problems (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: According to the survey; gender, health problem, smoking, alcohol use and income are predictors of poor mental health. Nurses and doctors working in FHCs are in a unique position to identify, counsel and treat people with mental health problems.