nabuyama/2024-Uganda-Census-findings-on-mental-distress

This project explores regional disparities in psychological distress across Uganda using data from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. # Mapping Mental Distress in Uganda An analysis of mental distress drivers based on the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. ## Project Background Mental health has gained increasing attention in Uganda (rightly so), reflected in its inclusion in the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. The Census Report indicates that 12% of Ugandans aged 10 and above had experienced at least some form of *probable general psychological distress*. Some ‘sub-regions’ (referred to as regions moving forward) recorded levels substantially above the national average, revealing clear geographic disparities. #### Two Patterns stand out - The Epicenter: Teso (16.4%), Bukedi (15.7%) and Bugisu (15.1%) - The Contrast: Ankole (8.8%) and Buganda (9.5%), well below the national average #### This drove my curiosity: What is different about high-distress regions? This project explores that question by examining how selected socio-economic indicators/ variables co-occur across regions within the same dataset. ## Variables of Interest The analysis focuses on indicators plausibly linked to mental well-being: | Indicator | Census report description | National Average | |----------|--------------------------|------------------| | Probable general psychological distress | Psychiatric conditions characterized by disturbances in cognition, emotion, or behavior, leading to disability in socializing, work, or self-care | 12% of persons aged 10 and above | | Severe food insecurity | Frequent and prolonged periods of insufficient food intake due to a lack of money and other resources | 30.7% of households | | Subsistence economy | Households within the subsistence economy are those unable to satisfy their basic needs | 33.1% of households | | Total fertility rate (TFR) | The average number of children who would be born to a woman by the end of her reproductive life if she survives to the end of her reproductive lifespan (15-49) and experiences the given Age Specific Fertility R …