Internalized stigma and quality of life among recipients of a rural community mental health program in southern Karnataka, India: a cross sectional study

Authors

  • Neethu George Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College, Perambalur Tamil Nadu, India
  • Johnson Pradeep Department of Psychiatry, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Ramakrishna B. Goud Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222226

Keywords:

Quality of life, Mentally ill persons, Rural mental health program, Stigma

Abstract

Background: In the field of mental health the role of adherence to medications is an important concept. One of the important reasons to be non-adherent to medications is the presence of stigma among mentally ill patients. The objectives of this study were to measure stigma to mental illness and quality of life among the enrolled patients in a community mental health program.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 persons registered under a rural mental health program selected by consecutive sampling. A questionnaire capturing information on socio-demography, stigma using Internalized stigma of mental illness (ISMI), and quality of life using WHO-BREF QOL questionnaire was used.

Results: In study 8 (2.7%) of the study, subjects were suffering from moderate stigma. Factors like gender, type of family, and marital status were significantly associated with total stigma. Quality of life domains was also positively associated with education, occupation, marital status, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions: The study showed minimal existence of stigma and lower mean scores in quality-of-life domains.

Author Biographies

Neethu George, Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College, Perambalur Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine

Johnson Pradeep, Department of Psychiatry, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Ramakrishna B. Goud, Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Professor, Department of Community Health

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Published

2022-08-26

How to Cite

George, N., Pradeep, J., & Goud, R. B. (2022). Internalized stigma and quality of life among recipients of a rural community mental health program in southern Karnataka, India: a cross sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(9), 3569–3575. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222226

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Original Research Articles