Mental Health in Dodoma: What People Know and How They Feel

Researchers surveyed 204 residents of Dodoma’s city centre between July and September 2021, asking about their understanding of mental illness and how they would react if a loved one were affected.

• Methodology
• A previously validated questionnaire was used.
• Participants were selected through a multi‑step sampling plan to ensure diversity.

• Data were analyzed with logistic regression to identify key drivers of knowledge and attitudes.

• Key Findings
• Knowledge: Two‑thirds of respondents had a decent grasp of mental health issues.
• Attitudes: Just over half viewed people with mental illness positively, yet many held uncomfortable views:
• 61 % would avoid visiting someone with a mental illness.
• 80 % would not marry them.
• Over half would refuse to share a bedroom.

• Social Drivers

  Factor	Effect on Attitudes	Effect on Knowledge
  Age (younger)	~10× more likely to have a favourable attitude	—
  Ethnicity	Linked with stronger stigma	—
  Job type	Linked with stronger stigma	—
  Gender (women)	—	~6× more likely to know about mental health
  Religion	—	Some groups showed less awareness
  Marital status	—	Married people showed less awareness

• Takeaway
  Knowledge alone does not erase stigma. Even those who understand mental illness can act unkindly or fearfully toward affected individuals.

• Recommendations
• Community education programmes.
• Local mental‑health groups.
• Public awareness campaigns focusing on both facts and attitude change.

By addressing both knowledge gaps and prevailing attitudes, these efforts could better equip Dodoma residents to support friends or relatives struggling with mental illness.