BARRIERS TO HELP SEEKING FOR PSYCHOSIS AMONG ADOLESCENT STUDENTS IN MAKURDI, NIGERIA

Oyedele Akinjola*, Aladi Nneka Edeh, Terkura Michael Agbir, Olorunninyo Oluwasesan Omidiji,
Michael Agbo Amedu, Obekpa Isaiah Obekpa and Festus Omo Ighagbon

ABSTRACT

The knowledge of mental illness is generally poor and several cultural and social factors act as barriers, influencing the attitude of people towards appropriate help seeking. Thereby, resulting in a wide treatment gap with huge disease burden and attendant massive socio-economic impact. This current study aims to determine the barriers to help seeking among adolescent students in Makurdi. A total of 228 consenting students were recruited into the study using stratified random sampling technique, case vignettes of schizophrenia followed by open ended questions were administered to assess barriers to help seeking. The respondents‟ ages range between 13 to 19 years (mean 15.88 ± 1.55 years) and they were mostly females (51.8%). Stigma (44.3%), illness related barrier (14.0%), Disapproval by family and friends (11.0%), negative attitude and belief about treatment (7.9%) as well as financial constraints (7.5%) are the highest barriers to help seeking for psychosis. The study also showed that stigma barrier, illness related barrier, preference for spiritual treatment and lack of trust in health care providers are more among males while negative attitude and beliefs about treatment, disapproval by family and friends and ignorance are more among female. The study showed the dominance of personal barriers over structural barriers to help seeking among adolescent students in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Keywords: Help seeking barriers. Psychosis, Adolescent, Gender difference, Nigeria.