SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR ON MENTAL ILLNESS IN NIGERIA

Oguamanam Gabriel Onyebuchi, Oli Nneka Perpetua

Abstract


Mental illness as a form of deviant behaviour that has failed to conform to the conventional norms is full of complexities and many uncertainties which therefore is disvalued by society. People suffering from mental illness have a number of ways of seeking for treatment, either from hospital, traditional, or spiritual. They may follow all of the above mentioned steps, or perhaps only one or two of them or may follow them in any order. Against this background, this study examined socio-cultural and economic factors affecting health seeking behaviour on  mental  illness  in  Nigeria.  The  study  was  a  cross –sectional  design.  A  survey  of  1200 respondents  from  two  selected  south  eastern  states  was  used.  Finding  revealedthat  cost  of treatment,   distance   to   treatment   facilities,   efficacy   of   treatment   method,   attitude   of personnel, and access to treatment facility were hindrances/factors affecting health seeking behaviour behaviour on mental illness. Hence, recommendationswere made to reduce these constraints.

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