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Pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination among people with depression in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Stigma is commonly encountered by individuals with mental illness and leads to discrimination. These phenomena restrict access to and use of mental health care services. This study evaluated the impact of stigma and discrimination among individuals with major depression in Nigeria.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted across four tertiary psychiatric facilities located in different regions of Nigeria. Consenting adults attending the psychiatric units in the participating sites with a diagnosis of a major depressive disorder and having an episode within the past 12 months were recruited. Interviews were conducted using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Discrimination and Stigma Scale, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Boston University Self Empowerment Scale, and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.

Results

One hundred and three interviews were completed. The mean age of the participants was 35.5 years. The most frequent item for experienced discrimination was being unfairly treated in dating or intimate relationships (13.6 %), while concealment of mental illness was the most common for anticipated discrimination (51.5 %). Younger people (age less than 40 years) with a higher level of education appear to be at high risk for experienced discrimination.

Conclusions

Important suggestions may be derived for clinicians, caregivers, and policy makers to appreciate the role of stigma in the burden, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with depression, especially for younger people with higher level of education.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare regarding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    Yewande O. Oshodi

  2. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Jibril Abdulmalik

  3. Department of Behavioral Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

    Bolanle Ola

  4. Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu, P.M.B 1108, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

    Bawo O. James

  5. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Chiara Bonetto & Doriana Cristofalo

  6. Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Tine Van Bortel

  7. Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programs, Geneva, Switzerland

    Norman Sartorius

  8. Health Service and Population Research Department, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, 29, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Graham Thornicroft

Authors
  1. Yewande O. Oshodi
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  2. Jibril Abdulmalik
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  3. Bolanle Ola
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  4. Bawo O. James
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  5. Chiara Bonetto
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  6. Doriana Cristofalo
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  7. Tine Van Bortel
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  8. Norman Sartorius
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  9. Graham Thornicroft
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bawo O. James.

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Oshodi, Y.O., Abdulmalik, J., Ola, B. et al. Pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination among people with depression in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 259–266 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0737-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0737-4

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