Patterns of and Factors Associated With Mental Health Service Utilization Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda: A Latent Class Analysis

April 30, 2023 by
Peace Mirembe (V3locity)

Byansi W, Ssewamala FM, Neilands TB, Mwebembezi A, Nakigozi G. Patterns of and Factors Associated With Mental Health Service Utilization Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda: A Latent Class Analysis. J Adolesc Health. 2023 May;72(5S):S24-S32. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.037. PMID: 37062580; PMCID: PMC10270327. 


Abstract

Purpose: 

The study aimed to improve understanding of patterns of multiple family group intervention engagement and associated factors among adolescent girls in a low-resource country, Uganda.

Methods: 

The data used in this analysis were part of a larger cluster randomized controlled trial consisting of 1260 adolescent girls across 47 public secondary schools. The sample in the current study consisted of 317 adolescent girls (ages 14-17 at enrollment) recruited from senior one and senior two classes across 12 secondary schools in the southwestern region of Uganda. Participants in this study participated in the multiple family group intervention-a 16-week manualized intervention. Attendance data from 16 sessions were used to identify the heterogeneity of intervention engagement using latent class analysis modeling. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between predisposing, enabling, need factors, and mental health utilization patterns.

Results: 

On average, participants attended 10 sessions (standard deviation = 5.90), 34.38% (N = 109) completed all 16 sessions, and 13.56% (N = 43) did not attend any of the sessions. Two attendance groups were identified: low and high attendants using latent class analysis. In addition, two family-level factors, the number of adults and the number of children in the family, were associated with an increase in the utilization of mental health services.

Discussion: 

Findings suggest that enhancing family support systems may be useful in promoting mental health utilization among adolescent girls with the potential to improve self-esteem, reduce feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately achieve better mental health outcomes.

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