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Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Received: 12 April 2021     Accepted: 9 July 2021     Published: 22 July 2021
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Abstract

Background: Stigma associated with mental illness is a psychosocial consequence that causes indescribable suffering for the victim. Therefore this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with level of perceived stigma among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness in Jimma city, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a face-to-face interview from September 20 to October 20/2012 G.C. Family interview schedule was used to assess perceived stigma. A total of 289 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. Results: The most frequently endorsed item was having felt grief or depression because of having a mentally ill family member or relative (96.5%). The mean stigma score was 17.8±6.9 and the majority of the respondents (54.7%) had a high stigma score. Caregivers/Family members who were spouse to the patient (AOR=4.25, 95%CI: 1.12–16.13) and longer duration of illness (AOR=3.60, 95%CI: 1.42– 9.44) were associated with higher stigma. But a person with mental illness who had verbal/physical violent behavior towards caregivers/family members and other people at the time of the illness (AOR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17–0.70) and among those family members who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life (AOR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.08-0.89) at p=0.032. Were associated with low stigma respectively. Conclusions: Perceived stigma was found to be a common problem among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness. Becoming spouse of the person, duration of illness, patient with violent behavior and, those caregivers who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life were significantly associated with perceived stigma.

Published in American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11
Page(s) 77-85
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Severe Mental Illness, Perceived Stigma, Caregivers, Jimma, Ethiopia

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Muhammed Seid Muhammed, Markos Tesfaye, Eshetu Girma, Mengesha Birkie. (2021). Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 9(4), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11

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    ACS Style

    Muhammed Seid Muhammed; Markos Tesfaye; Eshetu Girma; Mengesha Birkie. Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2021, 9(4), 77-85. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11

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    AMA Style

    Muhammed Seid Muhammed, Markos Tesfaye, Eshetu Girma, Mengesha Birkie. Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2021;9(4):77-85. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11,
      author = {Muhammed Seid Muhammed and Markos Tesfaye and Eshetu Girma and Mengesha Birkie},
      title = {Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study},
      journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {77-85},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20210904.11},
      abstract = {Background: Stigma associated with mental illness is a psychosocial consequence that causes indescribable suffering for the victim. Therefore this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with level of perceived stigma among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness in Jimma city, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a face-to-face interview from September 20 to October 20/2012 G.C. Family interview schedule was used to assess perceived stigma. A total of 289 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. Results: The most frequently endorsed item was having felt grief or depression because of having a mentally ill family member or relative (96.5%). The mean stigma score was 17.8±6.9 and the majority of the respondents (54.7%) had a high stigma score. Caregivers/Family members who were spouse to the patient (AOR=4.25, 95%CI: 1.12–16.13) and longer duration of illness (AOR=3.60, 95%CI: 1.42– 9.44) were associated with higher stigma. But a person with mental illness who had verbal/physical violent behavior towards caregivers/family members and other people at the time of the illness (AOR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17–0.70) and among those family members who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life (AOR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.08-0.89) at p=0.032. Were associated with low stigma respectively. Conclusions: Perceived stigma was found to be a common problem among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness. Becoming spouse of the person, duration of illness, patient with violent behavior and, those caregivers who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life were significantly associated with perceived stigma.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Level of Perceived Stigma Among Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Jimma City, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study
    AU  - Muhammed Seid Muhammed
    AU  - Markos Tesfaye
    AU  - Eshetu Girma
    AU  - Mengesha Birkie
    Y1  - 2021/07/22
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11
    T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
    JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
    JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
    SP  - 77
    EP  - 85
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8133
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20210904.11
    AB  - Background: Stigma associated with mental illness is a psychosocial consequence that causes indescribable suffering for the victim. Therefore this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with level of perceived stigma among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness in Jimma city, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a face-to-face interview from September 20 to October 20/2012 G.C. Family interview schedule was used to assess perceived stigma. A total of 289 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. Results: The most frequently endorsed item was having felt grief or depression because of having a mentally ill family member or relative (96.5%). The mean stigma score was 17.8±6.9 and the majority of the respondents (54.7%) had a high stigma score. Caregivers/Family members who were spouse to the patient (AOR=4.25, 95%CI: 1.12–16.13) and longer duration of illness (AOR=3.60, 95%CI: 1.42– 9.44) were associated with higher stigma. But a person with mental illness who had verbal/physical violent behavior towards caregivers/family members and other people at the time of the illness (AOR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17–0.70) and among those family members who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life (AOR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.08-0.89) at p=0.032. Were associated with low stigma respectively. Conclusions: Perceived stigma was found to be a common problem among caregivers of persons with severe mental illness. Becoming spouse of the person, duration of illness, patient with violent behavior and, those caregivers who attributed the cause of mental illness as the loss of properties and unsuccessful life were significantly associated with perceived stigma.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Psychiatry, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia

  • Department of Psychiatry, Research Directorate, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Department of Psychiatry, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia

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