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Causal attribution of mental illness in south-eastern Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Ugo Ikwuka
  • Niall Galbraith
  • Lovemore Nyatanga

Abstract

Background: Understanding of mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa has remained under-researched in spite of the high and increasing neuropsychiatric burden of disease in the region. Aims: This study investigated the causal beliefs that the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria hold about schizophrenia, with a view to establishing the extent to which the population makes psychosocial, biological and supernatural attributions. Method: Multi-stage sampling was used to select participants ( N = 200 ) to which questionnaires were administered. Results: Mean comparison of the three causal models revealed a significant endorsement of supernatural causation. Logistic regressions revealed significant contributions of old age and female gender to supernatural attribution; old age, high education and Catholic religious denomination to psychosocial attributions; and high education to biological attributions. Conclusions: It is hoped that the findings would enlighten, augment literature and enhance mental health care service delivery.

Suggested Citation

  • Ugo Ikwuka & Niall Galbraith & Lovemore Nyatanga, 2014. "Causal attribution of mental illness in south-eastern Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(3), pages 274-279, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:60:y:2014:i:3:p:274-279
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764013485331
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S.T.C. Ilechukwu, 1988. "Inter-Relationships of Beliefs About Mental Illness, Psychiatric Diagnoses and Mental Health Care Delivery Among Africans," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 34(3), pages 200-206, September.
    2. Tuckett, David & Williams, Abthony, 1984. "Approaches to the measurement of explanation and information-giving in medical consultations: A review of empirical studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 18(7), pages 571-580, January.
    3. Adrian Furnham & Anuli Igboaka, 2007. "Young People's Recognition and Understanding of Schizophrenia: a Cross-Cultural Study of Young People From Britain and Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(5), pages 430-446, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher Lui & Cheuk Wong & Adrian Furnham, 2016. "Mental health literacy in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(6), pages 505-511, September.

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