TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health stigma among university health care students in nigeria
T2 - A cross-sectional observational study
AU - Pederson, Aderonke Bamgbose
AU - Burnett-Zeigler, Inger
AU - Fokuo, Joyce Konadu
AU - Wisner, Katherine Leah
AU - Zumpf, Katelyn
AU - Oshodi, Yewande
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge the support of Lagos University Teaching Hospital at the University of Lagos. Dr Wisner reports personal fees from Allegheny Health Network, personal fees from VCU Health System Virginia, personal fees from Mayo Clinic Rochester, grants from NICHD, grants from Prentice Women’s Hospital, grants from NICHD, grants from NICHD, outside the submitted work.
Publisher Copyright:
© Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson et al.
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - Introduction: stigma is a key barrier to access and utilization of mental health services, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. The authors explore the specific content of mental health stigma among Nigerian university health care students at a national teaching hospital. These students are key stakeholders and represent a vital demographic to engage in stigma reduction initiatives. We evaluated the extent to which demographic characteristics, mood symptoms and utilization of resources are associated with stigma. Methods: the authors examined data obtained from surveys completed by university health care students (N = 82) at Lagos University teaching hospital. Surveys assessed demographic background, mood symptoms and use of mental health services. Simple linear regression was used to model the unadjusted association between each component variable and overall stigma score. All analyses were conducted using R (version 3.5.3, 2019, The R Foundation) and assumed a two-sided, 5% level of significance. Results: being a member of the minority ethnic group within our study population was associated with increased stigma. Individuals having greater need for mental health services (due to mood symptoms) were associated with increased stigma. Willingness to use medical services and community support from family and friends was associated with lower stigma. Religious themes were prominent among the majority of respondents. Conclusion: consideration of the content details of stigma among university health care students in Nigeria is essential to inform interventions and strategies to reduce stigma within this subgroup. Those students who have symptoms of depression or anxiety may have lower utilization of mental health services.
AB - Introduction: stigma is a key barrier to access and utilization of mental health services, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. The authors explore the specific content of mental health stigma among Nigerian university health care students at a national teaching hospital. These students are key stakeholders and represent a vital demographic to engage in stigma reduction initiatives. We evaluated the extent to which demographic characteristics, mood symptoms and utilization of resources are associated with stigma. Methods: the authors examined data obtained from surveys completed by university health care students (N = 82) at Lagos University teaching hospital. Surveys assessed demographic background, mood symptoms and use of mental health services. Simple linear regression was used to model the unadjusted association between each component variable and overall stigma score. All analyses were conducted using R (version 3.5.3, 2019, The R Foundation) and assumed a two-sided, 5% level of significance. Results: being a member of the minority ethnic group within our study population was associated with increased stigma. Individuals having greater need for mental health services (due to mood symptoms) were associated with increased stigma. Willingness to use medical services and community support from family and friends was associated with lower stigma. Religious themes were prominent among the majority of respondents. Conclusion: consideration of the content details of stigma among university health care students in Nigeria is essential to inform interventions and strategies to reduce stigma within this subgroup. Those students who have symptoms of depression or anxiety may have lower utilization of mental health services.
KW - African
KW - Mental health
KW - Religion
KW - Stigma
KW - University students
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U2 - 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.5.24898
DO - 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.5.24898
M3 - Article
C2 - 32983323
AN - SCOPUS:85091759897
VL - 37
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Pan African Medical Journal
JF - Pan African Medical Journal
SN - 1937-8688
IS - 5
ER -