Background: The pathways patients navigate to access mental health care have been reported to be responsible for the delay in commencing effective treatment following onset of schizophrenia. Objective: This study was conducted to delineate the pathways patients navigate on their way to psychiatric services and to explore the socio-demographic and clinical factors on the delay of referral for treatment.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the pathways to mental health care among patients with schizophrenia (n= 108), at their first contact with mental health services at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital mental health services. Results: Traditional and religious healers were the first contact for the majority (76.8%) of the patients. Patients who first contacted non-orthodox healers made a greater number of contacts in the course of seeking help compared to those who first contacted orthodox practitioners (p= 0.02). Negative symptoms of schizophrenia were significantly associated with a longer duration of untreated psychosis (p< 0.001).