Prevalence of mental illness and associated factors among holy water users at Andassa Saint George Monastery North-West Ethiopia in 2023

Introduction Mental disorder is a syndrome that manifests as a clinically significant disturbance in a person's thinking, controlling their emotions, or acting in way that are inconsistent with the psychological, biological, or developmental mechanisms that underlie mental functioning. Many people with mental disorder get religious help before or after getting modern treatment, despite this, there is lack of information which indicated the prevalence and associated factors of mental illness among holy water users. Objectives The Aims of this study was to determine the prevalence of mental Illness and Associated Factors among Holy Water Users at Andassa Saint George Monastery in Amhara Regional State, Bahir Dar Zurya Woreda, North -West Ethiopia in 2023. Method Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted from April 25 to May 25/2023.A Total of 655 eligible individuals was included and selected by using systematic random sampling technique in this study. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaire for socio demographic factors, interview and observation by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) for mental illness symptoms and clinical factors were collected using structured questionnaires. Result The prevalence of mental illness was 68.9% with 95%CI (63.9-73.9). During the multiple logistic regression being divorced [AOR=0.28, 95% CI(0.08,0.96)] with low somatic symptom [AOR=3.69,95% CI(2.28,5.99)] and moderate form of somatic symptoms [AOR=2.12,95%CI(1.19-3.81)] low social support [AOR=3.8,95%(1.6-6.71)] and sleep deprivation[AOR=2.21 95%CI(1.51,3.24)] those variables were significantly associated with mental illness. Conclusion The prevalence mental illness among holy water users was high. The reason for the figure reflects the insight of the community towards mental illness mainly depends on the religious’ site. To minimize the magnitude mental illness; stakeholders should work together with the religious fathers to bring those patients to mental illness clinics. Different factors were identified which contributed for mental illness.