Emotional Difficulties and Experiences of Stigma among Persons with Lymphatic Filariasis in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Jibril Omuya Abdulmalika, Emeka Chinwuba Nwefohb, James T. Obindoc, Samuel Dakwakd, Motunrayo Ayobolae, John Umaruf, Elisha Samuelg, Christopher Ogoshih, Julian Eatoni
- aSenior lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- bMental health advisor at the CBM Country Co-ordination Office, Abuja, Nigeria
- cAssociate professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Jos, Nigeria
- dLecturer at the department of General and Applied Psychology, University of Jos, Nigeria
- eDoctoral student at the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- fDeputy director for Plateau/Nassarawa States Integrated Health Programmes at the Carter Centre, Jos, Nigeria
- gAdministrative and human resources manager at the Health and Development Support Programme, Jos, Nigeria
- hProgramme coordinator at the Health and Development Support Programme, Jos, Nigeria
- iSenior mental health advisor at CBM International and Assistant Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Papers open inside SciRah from the original publisher or repository; SciRah never hosts them.
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic and often disfiguring condition that predominantly affects the rural poor and leads to social exclusion, stigma, and discrimination. Little is currently known about the emotional difficulties and stigma experiences among persons living with LF in Nigeria. Our study evaluated the emotional difficulties and stigma experienced by persons with LF in Plateau State, Nigeria. We utilized a combination of qualitative data instruments comprising focus group discussions, McGill's Illness Narrative Interviews, and key informant interviews. We transcribed and analyzed the data using a combination of inductive and deductive coding approaches. Sixty-nine respondents were interviewed: 37 females and 32 males. The prevalent community perception of LF was the belief that it was a spiritual problem. Emotional reactions included feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger, frustration, worry, and suicidal ideation. These experiences, including those of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion, culminated in difficulties with occupational functioning, marital life, and community participation. Our findings highlight the value of a rights-based approach that emphasizes state and non-state actors' need to provide access to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health, and to protect persons with LF from stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion.
TL;DRThe findings highlight the value of a rights-based approach that emphasizes state and non-state actors’ need to provide access to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health, and to protect persons with LF from stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion. (Semantic Scholar)