Determinant Factors of Community Attitude Towards Mental Illness in Northern Ethiopia: Mixed Method

Abstract

Berhanu Yeshanew, Zegeye Yohannis, Asmare Belete, Dessie Abebaw, Shegaye Shumet

Background: About 76% and 85% of people in low and middle-income countries with severe mental illness did not receive treatment due to fear of expected discrimination and stigma against diagnosed people with mental illness. There are no published works on the attitude of the community to mental illness in this study area.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the attitude and its’ associated factors towards mental illness among residents of Mertule Mariam town.

Methods: A Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2019. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the determinant factors for community attitude.

Result: The response rate was 98.2% with the sex distribution of 58.5% (554) males. The attitudes of the community were more authoritarian (52.8%), less benevolent (52.3%), more socially restrictive (38.8%), and positive to mental health services (59.2%). Age between (35-44) [AOR=2.50, CI 1.56-4.23, P-value= 0.001] and (18-24) [AOR=3.08(1.5-6.3) p-value=0.002], have been significantly associated with authoritarianism and the benevolence subscale respectively. Getting information about mental illness [AOR=0.02, CI 0.05-0.75, P-value <0.05], and involved in caring for the mentally ill [1.85(1.28-2.65)**] were significant variables for social restrictiveness and community mental health ideology subscale respectively.

Conclusion and Recommendation: The attitude of the participant was more affected by getting information about mental illness and involved in caring mentally ill. Using mass media and health institutions to disseminate information about mental health and involving the community to care mentally ill is essential to improve their attitude.

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