Health workers' attitude towards children and adolescents with mental illness in a teaching hospital in north-central Nigeria
J. child adolesc. ment. health (Online)
; 31(2): 125-137, 2019.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1263508
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Objective:
Public stigma against mental illness is well studied. However, there is a dearth of research into health workers' attitude towards children and adolescents with mental illness, especially in low- and middle income countries such Nigeria.Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 health workers in a Teaching Hospital in North-Central Nigeria. Participants were selected by random sampling from clinical and non-clinical departments. Participants completed questionnaires to assess stigma, knowledge, personal contact, previous training, and exposure to religious teaching on child and adolescent mental illness (CAMI).Results:
The response rate was 90%. Many health workers (42%) indicated that affected children should not play with other children, 38% would feel ashamed if a child in their family had mental illness, 42% would be concerned if their child sat with an affected child, and 27% would be afraid to speak to a child or adolescent with mental illness. Independent predictors of negative attitudes were poor knowledge, exposure to religious teaching that affected children are possessed or dangerous, and being from a non-medical professional group.Conclusion:
CAMI is stigmatised by health workers in this specialist Hospital in Nigeria. Urgent intervention is required to avoid adverse impact on affected children
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Attitude to Health
/
Child
/
Adolescent
/
Community Health Workers
/
Hospitals, Teaching
/
Mental Disorders
/
Nigeria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
J. child adolesc. ment. health (Online)
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
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