Factors associated with absconding behaviours amidst inpatients of a regional psychiatric hospital in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v19i1.427Keywords:
Abscond, Escape, Inpatients, Hospital, NigeriaAbstract
Background: Absconding from inpatient psychiatric setting is a potentially dangerous phenomenon for all the stakeholders in the mental health setting and the community at large. In order to put in place appropriate prevention strategies, there is a need to identify factors associated with absconding
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the rate of absconding behavior in a regional psychiatric hospital in Nigeria, and identify its associated factors and predictors.
Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study of admitted patients. A semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Global Assessment of Function (GAF) were administered to 406 admitted cases in the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Benin City
Data was analysed with SPSS 20. only thirteen cases of abscond were recorded during the study period.
Results: Abscond rate was found to be 3.2%. Male gender, diagnosis of psychoactive substance related disorders, and past history of escape in treatment setting were significantly related to absconding behaviours with the latter emerging as the best predictor.
Conclusion: Patients at high risk of abscond require special attention
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