The lay meaning (s) and understanding of depression among the middle-aged and elderly patients at Butabika Hospital. Implication for formal mental healthcare utilisation in Uganda

Abstract

This article explores the lay meaning(s) and understanding of depression among middle-aged and elderly patients in Uganda and its impact on treatment seeking. Through an interpretive phenomenological approach, data was collected using in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that depression with disruptive behaviors is regarded as “clan illness,” “witchcraft” or “madness” while depression with non – disruptive symptoms is perceived to be a “disease of thoughts” normative to life circumstances and aging. Conclusively, the cultural understanding of depression may imply that the western medical approach would be less recommended compared to traditional healing.