RESUMO
Studies regarding stigma towards mental illness in Argentina blossomed after the first National Mental Health Law was passed in 2010. Methodological limitations and contradictory results regarding community perceptions of stigma hinder comparisons across domestic and international contexts but some lessons may still be gleaned. We examine this research and derive recommendations for future research and actions to reduce stigma. These include tackling culture-specific aspects of stigma, increasing education of the general population, making more community-based services available and exposing mental health professionals to people with mental illness who are on community paths to recovery.
RESUMO
UNLABELLED: Many individuals with behavioral and mental health disorders do not receive care in specialized mental health services. These individuals could potentially be identified and managed in the primary healthcare level. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the coverage gap on mental health disorders in the primary healthcare level of Córdoba city, Argentina. METHODOLOGY: Stratified multistage random sample of individuals 19 to 69 years of age seeking care in primary healthcare centers of the public health system in Córdoba city. Presence of behavioral and mental health disorder and receiving healthcare through mental health services were assesed using CIDI 3.0. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 1,067 individuals were included in the present analysis. Overall, 20.15% of individuals included in the analysis had behavioral and mental health disorders during the last year, of whom 77.33% did not receive care through mental health services. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The proportion of individuals with behavioral and mental health disorders and of those who did not receive care through mental health services are similar to those observed in other Latin American countries, but higher than those reported in Europe. This communication gives preliminary results about the coverage gap on mental health disorders present in the primary healthcare level in Cordoba city. These individuals may benefit from interventions aimed to identify and manage those with mental health disorders in the primary healthcare level.
Assuntos
Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Serviços de Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Atenção Primária à Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Idoso , Argentina/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores de Tempo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a commonly used instrument to screen for psychiatric distress. However, the psychometric properties and reliability of the GHQ-12 in Argentina and, more specifically, in the city of Cordoba, have not previously been studied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychometric properties and reliability of GHQ-12 in adult consultants of primary care in Cordoba, Argentina. METHODS: Using probabilistic sampling in primary care centers in the city of Cordoba, a cross-sectional study was conducted. The Spanish version of the GHQ-12 was administered. The psychometric properties, including internal consistency and factor structure, for the Spanish version of the GHQ-12 were measured. RESULTS: 854 primary care consultants were included in the study. The questionnaire had high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.80. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model, similar to what has been reported for the original questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The GHQ-12 showed good psychometric properties and reliability in the studied population.