PERCEIVED CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN GONDAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Authors

  • Mengesha Endalew Shebabaw University of Gondar, College of Social Science and the Humanities psychology department Lecturer
  • Daniel Tsehay Sewasew University of Gondar College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of Psychology
  • Kelemu Fenta Gebeyehu university of Gondar College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of sociology
  • Birhanu Mekonnen Woldemeskel Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology
  • Gebeyehu Begashaw Abate Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology
  • Missaye Mulatie Mengestie Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology
  • YEMATAW WONDIE YEHUALESHET Gondar university College of Social Science and the HumanitiesDepartment of psychology

Abstract

Abstract

 

Beliefs hold by the community about the causes of psychological disorder has remarkable impact on their treatment seeking behavior.  The main purpose of this study was to appraise perceived attribution to causes of psychological disorder and treatment seeking behavior among the public, in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. One way ANOVA and t- test were used in all the factors after ensuring no violations of the assumptions of the tests. A cross sectional survey design with quantitative approach was used. Using multistage cluster sampling technique 371 Participants from the Public were selected. The mean score of the factors were computed to identify the most rated factors. On perceived attribution to causes of psychological disorder, psychosocial factor was most rated than supernatural causes whereas in the treatment seeking behavior; psychosocial factor followed by family care was most favored by the public but no treatment factor was least favored. The researchers found out that attribution to causes of psychological disorder and treatment seeking behavior was not statistically significant across sex, age and educational level of the respondents. Difference in mean score on no treatment factor by sex and mean score difference in medical factor and folk medicine and religious healers by educational level of the respondents was statistically significant whereas the remaining factors were insignificant. At last the researchers conclude that psychosocial causes are believed to be the cause of psychological disorder and psychosocial support and family care as a means for treatment.

 

Keywords: Supernatural Causes, Psychosocial Causes, No Treatment Factor, Folk Medicine   and Religious Healers, Family Care, Medical Factor, Psychosocial Factors.

Author Biographies

Mengesha Endalew Shebabaw, University of Gondar, College of Social Science and the Humanities psychology department Lecturer

College of Social Science and the Humanities 

Department of Psychology

Lecturer in Clinical Psychology ( MSC)

Daniel Tsehay Sewasew, University of Gondar College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of Psychology

College of Social Science and the Humanities 

Department of Psychology

Assistant professor, 

Kelemu Fenta Gebeyehu, university of Gondar College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of sociology

College of Social Science and the Humanities

Department of sociology 

lecturer

Birhanu Mekonnen Woldemeskel, Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology

College of Social Science and the Humanities

Department of psychology

lecturer

Gebeyehu Begashaw Abate, Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology

Gondar university
College of Social Science and the Humanities

Department of psychology

lecturer

Missaye Mulatie Mengestie, Gondar university College of Social Science and the Humanities Department of psychology

Gondar university 
College of Social Science and the Humanities

Department of psychology

PhD Candidate

YEMATAW WONDIE YEHUALESHET, Gondar university College of Social Science and the HumanitiesDepartment of psychology

Gondar university 
College of Social Science and the Humanities

Department of psychology

Associate Professor

References

References

Adewuya, A. & Makanjuola, R. (2008). Lay beliefs regarding causes of mental illness in Nigeria: pattern and correlates Published online.

Alvidrez J. (1999). Ethnic Variations in Mental Health Attitudes and Service Use among Low-Income African American, Latina, and European American Young Women; Community Mental Health Journal, Vol. 35, No. 6.

Al-Adawi, S. ,Atsu S., Suad S., Dalal A., Balquis Z., Ahmed A. , David T., Mrugeshkumar K., Harith

G. & Suma P. (2002). Perception of and Attitude towards Mental Illness in Oman, Published

by: http://www.sagepublications.com.

American Psychiatric Association. (2005). Diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. Washington D.C.

Ataly A., Jacobson, Mesfin A., kebede D. & Kulgren. (1999). How are mental disorders seen

and when help sought in rural Ethiopian community, Acta psychatrial scad.

Chong,S., Swapna, V., Janhavi, A., Yiong, H. & Lai, Y. (2007). Perception of the public towards the mentally ill in a developed Asian country, Published online.

Desjarlias R., Eisenburg L., Good B. & Kleinman A. (1995). World mental health: Problem

and properties in low income countries. Oxford University press INC, Oxford,

UK.

Érica de Toledo , Peluso, P, & Blay, S. (2004). Community perception of mental disorders A systematic review of Latin American and Caribbean studies; Dept. of Psychiatry Federal University of São Paulo.

Eshetu , G. & Markos, T. (2011). Patterns of treatment seeking behavior for mental

illnesses in Southwest Ethiopia: a hospital based study.

Holzinger, A. , Floris, F. ,Schomerus, G. , Carta ,MG., &Angermeyer, MC.(n.d). Gender

differences in public beliefs and attitudes about mental disorder in western countries: a

systematic review of population studies. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,

Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Jacobsson, L. &Merdasa (1991). Traditional perceptions and treatments of mental disorder in central Ethiopia. Acta psychatrial scad.

Lia van der Ham, Pamela W. ,Thang, V., Vuong D.,& Jacqueline E., (2011). Perceptions of Mental Health and Help-Seeking Behavior in an Urban Community in Vietnam: An Explorative Study. Community Mental Health J 47:574–582 DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9393-x.

Lisa M. (2007). Perceptions of Mental Illness and Psychotherapy in a Sample of

Asian, Hispanic, and White American College Students; California State

University, Fullerton, Volume 1, Issue 2.

Mahlalele, S. . & Osiki, J (2009). A Survey Study on the Stigmatization of the Mentally-ill; the case of HA Leqele, Lesotho, Southern Africa Ozean Publication.

Hirai, M. (1999). A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Factors Related to Help-Seeking

Attitudes for Psychological Disorder; Blacksburg, VA.

Kabir, M., Zubair,I., Isa, S. & Muktar H. (2004). Perception and beliefs about mental illness among adults in Karfi village, northern Nigeria; BioMed Central Ltd.

Razali SM., Khan, UA., Hasanah CI.( 1996). Belief in supernatural causes of mental illness among Malay patients: impact on treatment. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 94(4):229-33.

Segal, D. , Coolidge, F. Mincic,M. & O’Riley, A. (2004). Beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek help: A cross-sectional study, Department of psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Yaseen A. & Sumaya L. (2007). South African Muslim Faith Healers Perceptions of

Mental Illness: Understanding, Aetiology and Treatment Published online Blanton-Peale

Institute.

Yuri, J., David A., Chiriboga, A. & Sumie O. (2009). Attitudes toward mental health services: age-group differences in Korean American adults. Aging Mental Health. 13(1): 127–134. )

Published

01-10-2014

How to Cite

Shebabaw, M. E., Sewasew, D. T., Gebeyehu, K. F., Woldemeskel, B. M., Abate, G. B., Mengestie, M. M., & YEHUALESHET, Y. W. (2014). PERCEIVED CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN GONDAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA. Innovare Journal of Social Sciences, 2(4), 58–64. Retrieved from https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijss/article/view/2224

Issue

Section

Original Article(s)

Most read articles by the same author(s)