A retrospective study of mental illnesses among Makerere University students over the period 1965-1974

Abstract

The necessary data for this study was extracted from the student case notes in the student sick bay of Makerere University, the Registrar’s Office of Makerere Main Hall building and from the individual halls of residence. In the ten year period investigated (1965 – 1974 inclusive) 457 psychiatric cases were collected and the disease pattern and distribution by sex, age, faculty, East African territories, halls of residence, diagnosis, predisposing factors, and for Uganda, distribution by tribe, were tabulated, analysed and discussed. One important point that must be borne in mind when comparing those results with those of other authors is that this study, the denominator used is the total student population in the University for each year. Where necessary, this population has been broken down to faculty sizes, territorial sizes etc. This was done because sick bay attendance returns were not complete for the whole period under investigation.