Perceptions of wandering mentally ill in urban area of Burkina Faso: case of the city of Ouahigouya

Abstract

ln Burkina Faso, there is an improvement in access to mental health services across the country. However, it is common to see along the streets of major cities, wandering mentally ill, cohabiting with the rest of the population. This article, purely descriptive was to  identify socioeconomic and cultural determinants, explain the abandonment without care of these patients in the city of Ouahigouya. In light of our results, three main types of factors were noted and could explain this situation: economic poverty, lack of device for wandering mentally ill care, and cultural tolerance to the presence of non v iolent wandering mentally ill.