Pathways to mental health delivery-systems in Nigeria

This study investigated the referral sources and pathways of treated psychiatric patients to two therapeutic facilities in Nigeria. The centres are: Aro Mental Hospital; and Aro Community Village Programme. The result indicates that next of kin are the primary referral source for treated schizophrenic patients. Secondly there is a hierarchy in the pathways to the facilities. Patients often seek care from native healers, then syncretic churches before making any contact with modern psychiatric facilities. The interplay between traditional healers and modern psychiatric centres is revealed in the study.