Correlates of Self-Stigma Among Outpatients With Mental Illness in Lagos, Nigeria

Abiodun O. Adewuya, Adekile O. Owoeye, A.O. Erinfolami and Bolanle A. Ola
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Abiodun O. Adewuya: Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, biodunwuya@yahoo.com
Adekile O. Owoeye: Federal Neuropsychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
A.O. Erinfolami: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Bolanle A. Ola: Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2011, vol. 57, issue 4, 418-427

Abstract: Background: Studies in this region have all been limited to public stigma whereas little is known about the extent of self-stigma. Aims: To assess the extent, domains and correlates of self-stigma among psychiatric outpatients in Lagos, Nigeria. Method: Psychiatric outpatients ( n = 342) from three centres completed a modified version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) as a measure of their self-stigma. They were also evaluated for various sociodemographic and clinical related variables. Results: A total of 74 ( n = 21.6%) patients were classified as having ‘high selfstigma’. The correlates of high self-stigma included unemployment (OR 3.85, 95% CI 2.55—7.00), poor social support (OR 10.82, 95% CI 4.85—24.84), longer duration of illness (OR 10.35, 95% CI 4.36—25.78) and having full insight into the illness (OR 4.23, 95% CI 2.16—8.76). Conclusions: Self-stigma is a common phenomenon in psychiatric outpatients in this environment. The present anti-stigma programmes must extend to regions of sub-Saharan Africa and incorporate self-stigma as a matter of priority.

Keywords: self-stigma; outpatients; mental illness; Lagos; Nigeria; sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:4:p:418-427

DOI: 10.1177/0020764010363522

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