Browsing by Author "Walakira, Eddy"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Barriers to treatment seeking for depression among elderly service users at Butabika National Referral and Teaching hospital, Kampala- Uganda.
    (2025-05) Ganafa, Sumani; Kwiringira, Japheth; Mugisha, James; Walakira, Eddy
    Depression among the elderly is a significant public health concern in Uganda, where cultural, social, and healthcare-related barriers hinder access to treatment and support. This study examines the barriers to mental health service access faced by elderly service-users in Uganda. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted to capture the lived experiences of elderly Baganda service users receiving treatment at Butabika National Referral and Teaching hospital. The findings reveal an intricate interaction between cultural, social, economic, and healthcare system-related barriers. Key barriers include limited mental health awareness, financial constraints, fragmentation, drug shortage and geographical access. Social and cultural stigma further exacerbate these challenges contributing to delayed or avoided help-seeking behaviours among the elderly. The study highlights the intersectionality of aging and mental health issues, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive, integrated approach to mental health care for the elderly. This research calls for targeted interventions to reduce stigma, increase mental health literacy, and improve the accessibility and affordability of care for vulnerable elderly populations in Uganda. Such services can improve mental health outcomes and quality of life for the elderly in Uganda.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impact of stigma on HIV treatment seeking behavior among the youth living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: critical review of literature
    (International Journal of HIV-Related Problems, 2021) Kiwanuka, Anthony; Walakira, Eddy; Andersson, Lena; Mafigiri, David K.
    An estimated 11.8 million youths in sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV and AIDS, and more than one-half of those newly infected with HIV today are between 18 and 24 years. This study reviewed research assessing the impact of stigma on HIV treatment seeking behavior among youths in sub-Saharan Africa. The review highlighted particular stigma issues that young people face. Also, it analyzed the causes and consequences of stigma, and identified skills to cope with stigma and to build modalities for a change of behavior. The review include original articles published between 1988 and 2019 on HIV and AIDS stigma, which were found on various internet sites. The review determined that in developing countries, social and economic factors have an impact on HIV infection, including mainly older grandparents and their role as caregivers of orphaned children as a result of parental HIV infection. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate culturally sensitive modalities that assure target populations’ ability to respond to local understandings of key issues associated with HIV and AIDS stigmatization. Stigma among the youth remains a barrier to all essential components, which constitute a good prevention program, and much detailed research on stigma reduction is required to improve components of a good prevention program. Health education campaigns should integrate a change from fear to care for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially among healthcare personnel. More prevention activities should be situated in rural and remote areas of each country than in urban locations, as currently in Nigeria. Since most of the population resides in rural areas, it is most appropriate to concentrate these programs in such locations.