నైరూప్య

Perceptions and Beliefs about Mental Illness (Schizophrenia) among people in Ashanti communities and it awareness

Kwarteng Yeboah

Concept of mental illness like schizophrenia is increasing and is particularly severe for people living in rural communities. Ghana adopted a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for persons with mental illness to address the problem comprehensively. However, negative attitudes towards the mentally ill, stigmatization and discrimination constitute a serious barrier to CBR. The objective of the study was to assess societal beliefs and perceptions about people with schizophrenia, among the adult population in a rural community (Offinso, Obuasi and Nkawie other communities in the Ashanti Region. The study used a mixed method where both qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed. A sample size was determined using a systematic approach. The respondents held fairly positive views about the mentally ill, despite a few negative authoritarian surroundingly restrictive attitudes and views. Though participants appeared to be knowledgeable about the possible physical, social and environmental causes