Stigmatization of Mental Illness: Implications for Mental Health Recovery among Persons Receiving Mental Health Care at Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Ghana (Published)
Despite the breakthrough made in the field of psychiatry as a branch of medicine in enlightening our understanding of mental illness, persons with mental illness (PWMI) continue to be saddled with numerous challenges as a result of stigmatization. This study explored factors that account for stigmatization and the effect of these factors on persons with mental illness receiving treatment at Ankafu Psychiatric Hospital in Ghana. Using a concurrent mixed method design, data was gathered through a structured questionnaire among PWMI and, by means of an interview among health professionals and patients’ relatives. Purposive sampling techniques (maximum variation sampling technique and criterion sampling) were used in combination with convenience sampling technique to gather data from 88 respondents selected from a population of 263 mentally ill patients and health professionals. Findings from the study showed that media-related factors, clinical factors such as signs and symptoms among PWMI, side-effects of medication, and social beliefs, accounted for stigma towards PWMI. The study also revealed that stigmatization affects the mental health recovery of PWMI leading to relapse of their condition. The study, recommended that the Mental Health Authority in conjunction with management of the Ankaful Hospital should intensify health education and contact with PWMI in order to help them cope with stigma. They should also ensure that mental ill patients are psychologically prepared by the hospital before discharging them into the communities to minimize the incidence of relapse.
Keywords: Lucid interval, Mental illness, Relapse, Stigmatization
Psychosocial Perspectives of Stigmatization and Discrimination of Persons Living With HIV and AIDS: The Case of Winneba Municipal Hospital (Published)
The study explored the psychosocial perspectives of stigmatization and discrimination of Persons Living with HIV (PLWHA) in the Effutu Municipality with Winneba Municipal Hospital in focus. The research design employed was the descriptive survey using the explanatory mixed method approach which utilized questionnaire and interview as the research instruments for data collection. Two (2) research questions and two (2) hypotheses guided the study. Fifty-three (53) participants comprising fifty-one (51) PLWHA and two (2) HIV counsellors were sampled using the convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics (t-test & regression) to test the hypotheses while the qualitative data were analysed thematically with verbatim quotations from participants to support issues as they emerged. The study revealed that stigmatization and discrimination against PLWHA are not significant even though there was evidence of their existence in the areas of employment and workplace, community contexts, family contexts, and access to healthcare. It was, therefore recommended that the local authorities together with the District Ghana AIDS Commission should strengthen the awareness creation on the need for harmonious living with PLWHA in the community and the District Ministry of Health should employ more health personnel to engage in follow up services to PLWHA patients.
Keywords: Discrimination, HIV/AIDS, Psychosocial, Stigmatization
Social Marketing Campaign as a Tool for Reducing Financial Cost of HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Nigeria (Published)
In this study the impact of social marketing campaign as a tool for reducing the financial costs of HIV/AIDS on people in Nigeria is explored. This was motivated by the excruciating financial, social ostracization and psychological burdens of stigmatization (costs), people living with HIV (PLIs) and their families are saddled with in the country. The study objectives were to: ascertain the effect of social marketing campaign messages of abstinence for reducing the financial costs of HIV/AIDS on people in Nigeria; determine the impact of social marketing campaign tools of counselling for reducing the social ostracization of people living with HIV (PLIs) by their families in Nigeria; and assess the effect of social marketing campaign tools of Africa traditional media (oramedia) for reducing the stigmatization of people living with HIV (PLIs) in Nigeria. The area of study was three big cities in Nigeria: Calabar, PortHarcourt and Enugu, reputed as having very high students and youths’ population, considered as endemic group. A sample size of 300 was purposively determined and proportionately allocated to the 3 cluster cities. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire in Likert’s 4-points scale, which was also used in analysing the data. Results obtained indicate that: Social marketing campaign messages of abstinence was significantly effective for reducing the financial costs of HIV/AIDS on people in Nigeria; social marketing campaign tool of counselling was significantly effective for reducing the social ostracization of people living with HIV (PLIs) by their families in Nigeria; social marketing campaign tools of Africa traditional media (oramedia) were significantly effective for reducing the stigmatization of people living with HIV (PLIs) in Nigeria. Based on these results, governmental agencies, health marketers and behaviour-change agents in the country were advised to emphasize the use of these tools in other to reduce the costs of the HIV/AIDS burdens on the PLIs.
Keywords: Abstinence, Financial Costs, HIV/AIDS, Social Marketing, Stigmatization
HIV/AIDS Stigmatization on Relatives and Associates of People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Psychological Study (Published)
The present study examined HIV/AIDS stigmatization on relatives and associates of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. After seeking informed consent from relatives and associates of HIV/AIDS patients on hand at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 60 responded to the HIV Stigma Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. One Way Analysis of variance, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Independent t-test were the statistical tools used for the analysis of the 3 hypotheses. Analysis of results indicates that no significant difference exists between the levels of stigma experienced by various associates of patients with HIV/AIDS. However, female associates of children with HIV/AIDS experienced more stigma than their male counterparts. The study found no significant relationship between stigma level and psychological distress among relatives and associates of the patients living with HIV/AIDS. From the Ghanaian setting, it is conclusive that regardless of the nature of relationship existing between people living with HIV/AIDS and their significant others, some level of stigma is still experienced across board. The implications of the study were discussed in line with the literature and the concept of Indigenous Cultural and Family Insurance
Keywords: : HIV/AIDS Patients, Associates, Ghana, Indigenous Cultural and Family Insurance Concept, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Psychological Distress, Stigmatization