Non-mental health workers’ attitudes and social distance towards people with mental illness in a Nigerian teaching hospital
Background: Studies on attitudes towards mental health in Nigeria have been mainly community-based surveys. Objective: To determine the knowledge and attitudes towards mental illness (MI) of health workers in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Methods: A stratified sample of 256 health workers comp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
South Sudan Doctors' Association
2015-08-01
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| Series: | South Sudan Medical Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/august-2015/non-mental-health-workers-attitudes-and-social-distance-towards-people-with-mental-illness-in-a-nigerian-teaching-hospital.html |
| Summary: | Background: Studies on attitudes towards mental health in Nigeria have been mainly community-based surveys.
Objective: To determine the knowledge and attitudes towards mental illness (MI) of health workers in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.
Methods: A stratified sample of 256 health workers completed an Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) designed for this study.
Results: Most participants (62.1% to 80.9%) identified scientific factors such as genetic inheritance as causes of MI; 24.8% identified spiritual factors as potential causes. Effective methods of treatment identified by respondents include orthodox methods (84.6%) and a combination of traditional and orthodox management (37.8%). There were varying shades of negative attitudes towards mentally ill persons (MIPs).
Conclusion: The health workers showed some degree of social distance to MIPs, and there is need for psycho-education to improve their knowledge in mental health. |
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| ISSN: | 2309-4605 2309-4613 |