Understanding the Factors Influencing the Mental Health and Emotional Well-being of Women Residents at the Witches’ Camps of Northern Ghana

Background: Witchcraft accusations have occurred in Ghanaian society and elsewhere in Sahara, Africa, for many decades. Witchcraft accusations commonly reveal a cultural predisposition to apportion blame for mishaps in the community, such as a disability or misconceptions surrounding ageing and dementia. Such labelling severely curtails the lives of the women, who are banished to live in the “witches” camps with resultant social isolation and accompanying stressors impacting their well-being. Yet, little is known specifically about these women’s mental health and emotional well-being. This research aimed to understand the factors influencing older women’s mental and emotional well-being in the witches’ camps in northern Ghana. Methodology: A two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed, using the socio-ecological model, Kleinman's explanatory model, and the social determinants of health as framing lenses. In phase one, an interpretive descriptive approach was used, drawing on purposive sampling to recruit and interview 15 women from one of the "witches' camps" in northern Ghana, along with three allied stakeholders. Additionally, observational photos of the camp's facilities were taken to provide further triangulated data to supplement the interviews. The precise ages of the women were unavailable due to their unknown birth dates. The participants stayed in the camp for a period ranging from 8 to 30 years. Phase two aimed to investigate anxiety and depression symptoms among a cohort of women from the camps and validate the Dagbani Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A cross-sectional descriptive method was applied, utilizing the cross-culturally translated HADS. A total of 168 women were recruited through random sampling from the witches' camps, and 100 women from the general population completed the Dagbani version of the HADS. Findings: Thematic analysis of phase one data identified nine broad themes: ‘the presence of physical health problems impacting general health and ...