Sociodemographic and Geographic Influences of Mental Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Community Health Clinic Attendees in Tshwane, South Africa

Background: Mental health literacy remains low in South Africa, particularly in nonurban settings. This study aims to determine the sociodemographic and geographic influences of mental health literacy among community health clinic attendees. Methods: This study adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional study design and was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020. A total of 385 participants were recruited through convenience sampling, with approximately 77 individuals per clinic across five sites. The participants’ responses regarding disorder recognition and perceived causes were analyzed via Pearson’s chi-square tests. To identify predictors of recognition and perceived causes, hierarchical logistic regression was performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. All analyses were conducted via STATA version 18.1 (StataCorp, Texas, USA). Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.39±11.14 years (range: 13–80). Factors such as geographic location, gender and level of education were significant predictors of recognition. Participants attending urban clinics were more likely to correctly identify correct mental disorders than those attending township clinics were [OR = 0.32; 95% CI: (0.11, 0.93); p value = 0.036]. For correct causes, significant predictors included gender, education level, and geographic location. Urban clinic attendees were significantly more accurate at identifying the correct cause of mental disorders than township attendees were [OR = 0.42; 95% CI: (0.21, 0.83; p value = 0.013]. Conclusion: Mental health literacy in Tshwane community healthcare clinics reflects deep-rooted sociodemographic and geographic inequalities. Strengthening township clinic capacity, integrating culturally relevant health education, and prioritizing gender-sensitive outreach are essential to improve the recognition and understanding of mental disorders in underserved communities.