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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 5/2014

01-05-2014 | Original Paper

Community attitudes and social distance towards the mentally ill in South Sudan: a survey from a post-conflict setting with no mental health services

Authors: Touraj Ayazi, Lars Lien, Arne Eide, Elizabeth Joseph Shadar Shadar, Edvard Hauff

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 5/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates attitudes and social distance towards the mentally ill in a post-conflict, low-income country.

Methods

A cross-sectional community survey (n = 1,200) was conducted in South Sudan. Associations between various sociodemographic variables and attitudes toward/social distance from the mentally ill were investigated.

Results

The regression analysis showed that lower levels of education were positively associated with social distance, and Christian or Muslim beliefs, compared with traditional beliefs, were negatively associated with social distance. Familiarity with mental illness or psychological distress was not significantly associated with social distance. Participants who endorsed community-oriented attitudes (rather than hospital/drug-oriented attitudes) about health care for the mentally ill were more likely show a decreased social distance. Participants who believed that the mentally ill were dangerous had higher scores on the social distance scale.

Conclusions

A high level of stigma towards the mentally ill exists in South Sudan, especially in the rural areas. Alongside efforts to build up mental health services in South Sudan, the existing stigma needs to be addressed. Information regarding the role of the community both in preventing mental illnesses and in service delivery should be prioritised.
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Metadata
Title
Community attitudes and social distance towards the mentally ill in South Sudan: a survey from a post-conflict setting with no mental health services
Authors
Touraj Ayazi
Lars Lien
Arne Eide
Elizabeth Joseph Shadar Shadar
Edvard Hauff
Publication date
01-05-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0775-y

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