Internalized Stigma among Patients with Mental Illness Attending Psychiatric Follow-Up at Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

Biksegn Asrat,Alem Eskeziya Ayenalem,Tenaw Yimer

doi:10.1155/2018/1987581

Abstract

Background This study tried to reflect evidences regarding internalized stigma and assessed risk factors of internalized stigma. Objective It aims to assess the magnitude, domains, and covariates of internalized stigma among patients with mental illness in southern Ethiopia. Methods The study was carried out by using a cross-sectional study design at Dilla University Referral Hospital (DURH). A total of 317 patients with mental illness were involved. Internalized stigma was measured using Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were done. Result The prevalence of internalized stigma was 32.1% among people living with mental illness in Dilla University Referral Hospital. Being female, medication nonadherence, and lack of family support were factors independently associated with internalized stigma. Conclusion The results of this study found an intermediate prevalence of internalized stigma among people living with mental illness in Dilla University Referral Hospital (DURH). It revealed how much antistigma campaigns are so much important to tackle internalized stigma among people living with mental illness. Incorporating counseling and structured therapy played an important role in maximizing their quality of life.

Highlights

People living with mental illness (PLWMI) are facing double problems: their illness and the stigma
Stigma experienced by patients with mental illness (PWMI) is classified into three ways [2]: perceived stigma: what the individual thinks about societies’ beliefs about the stigmatized group; experienced stigma: actual discrimination experienced by mentally ill individuals; self-stigma: a product of the internalization of public stigma
The overall prevalence of internalized stigma among psychiatric follow-up patients in Dilla University Referral Hospital (DURH) is supported by other findings in Europe, which indicated that there are rampant self-stigmatization and discrimination among people with mental illness [23, 24]

Summary

Introduction

People living with mental illness (PLWMI) are facing double problems: their illness and the stigma. Stigma is unjustifiably held belief, feeling, and behavior towards people with mental illness (PWMI) [2, 3]. It aims to assess the magnitude, domains, and covariates of internalized stigma among patients with mental illness in southern Ethiopia. The prevalence of internalized stigma was 32.1% among people living with mental illness in Dilla University Referral Hospital. The results of this study found an intermediate prevalence of internalized stigma among people living with mental illness in Dilla University Referral Hospital (DURH). It revealed how much antistigma campaigns are so much important to tackle internalized stigma among people living with mental illness. Incorporating counseling and structured therapy played an important role in maximizing their quality of life

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion