Perception and beliefs about mental illness among adults in Karfi village, northern Nigeria

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Muktar H Aliyu¹  Isa S Abubakar²  Zubair Iliyasu²  Mohammed Kabir² 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA;Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria & Department of Community Medicine & Primary Care, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

关键词: northern Nigeria;    attitudes;    beliefs;    perception;    Mental illness;   

Others  :  1090768
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-698X-4-3

 received in 2004-06-15, accepted in 2004-08-20,  发布年份 2004

【 摘 要 】

Background

This study was designed to examine the knowledge, attitude and beliefs about causes, manifestations and treatment of mental illness among adults in a rural community in northern Nigeria.

Methods

A cross sectional study design was used. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 250 adults residing in Karfi village, northern Nigeria.

Results

The most common symptoms proffered by respondents as manifestations of mental illness included aggression/destructiveness (22.0%), loquaciousness (21.2%), eccentric behavior (16.1%) and wandering (13.3%). Drug misuse including alcohol, cannabis, and other street drugs was identified in 34.3% of the responses as a major cause of mental illness, followed by divine wrath/ God's will (19%), and magic/spirit possession (18.0%). About 46% of respondents preferred orthodox medical care for the mentally sick while 34% were more inclined to spiritual healing. Almost half of the respondents harbored negative feelings towards the mentally ill. Literate respondents were seven times more likely to exhibit positive feelings towards the mentally ill as compared to non-literate subjects (OR = 7.6, 95% confidence interval = 3.8–15.1).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the need for community educational programs in Nigeria aimed at demystifying mental illness. A better understanding of mental disorders among the public would allay fear and mistrust about mentally ill persons in the community as well as lessen stigmatization towards such persons.

【 授权许可】

   
2004 Kabir et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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