The Relationship Between Mental Health Disorders and Climate Factors Among Residents of Kampala District Attending Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Uganda

Background: Climate change is a known risk factor for poor mental health outcomes. While there is a growing body of research on mental health in Uganda, there is still limited evidence on the relationship between mental health and climate change. Therefore, this study assessed the trends of mental disorders, and the relationship between mental disorders and climate factors among residents of Kampala district. Methods: Ecological and cross-sectional study designs were used, employing quantitative data collection approaches. The data was sourced from secondary sources; mental disorders data were extracted from patient registers/files at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, and that on climate (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) from Uganda National Meteorological Authority. Descriptive analysis, Spearman correlation and time series analysis was performed. Results: The proportion of mental disorders ranged from 3.5% to 47.3%. Relative humidity showed a weak negative correlation with mental health disorders (rho = -0.3620 P = 0.00458). Conclusion: The study revealed a rising trend of mental disorders among residents of Kampala. However, meteorological factors do not sufficiently explain this. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to explore these complex inter-actions further. Policy and planning efforts should prioritize strengthening mental health services to accommodate the growing urban demand.