Abstract
Abstract
Background
For women in most low- and middle-income countries, the diagnosis with serious mental illness (SMI) leads to stigma and challenges related to starting or maintaining marriages. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perspectives on marriage, divorce and family roles of women with SMI in rural Ethiopia.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted in a rural setting of Butajira, South Central Ethiopia. A total of 39 in-depth interviews were carried out with service users (n = 11), caregivers (n = 12), religious leaders (n = 6), health extension workers (n = 4), police officers (n = 2), teachers (n = 2) and government officials (n = 2). Data were analyzed using a thematic approach.
Results
Three themes emerged. (1) Marriage and SMI: Chances of getting married for individuals with SMI in general was perceived to be lower: Individuals with SMI experienced various challenges including difficulty finding romantic partner, starting family and getting into a long-term relationship due to perceived dangerousness and the widespread stigma of mental illness. (2) Gendered experiences of marriageability: Compared to men, women with SMI experienced disproportionate levels of stigma which often continued after recovery. SMI affects marriageability for men with SMI, but mens' chances of finding a marital partner increases following treatment. For women in particular, impaired functioning negatively affects marriageability as ability to cook, care and clean was taken as the measure of suitability. (3) Acceptability of divorce and separation from a partner with SMI: Divorce or separation from a partner with SMI was considered mostly acceptable for men while women were mostly expected to stay married and care for a partner with SMI. For men, the transition from provider to dependent was often acceptable. However, women who fail to execute their domestic roles successfully were considered inept and would be sent back to their family of origin.
Conclusion
Women with SMI or those married to partners with SMI are at greater disadvantage. Reducing vulnerabilities through stigma reduction efforts such as community outreach and mental health awareness raising programs might contribute for better social outcomes for women with SMI.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Reference46 articles.
1. Kebede D, Alem A, Shibre T, Negash A, Deyassa N, Beyero T. Health-related quality of life (SF-36) survey in Butajira, rural Ethiopia: normative data and evaluation of reliability and validity. Ethiop Med J. 2004;42(4):289–97.
2. Shibre T, Medhin G, Teferra S, Wakwoya A, Berhanu E, Abdulahi A, Alem A, Fekadu A. Predicators of carer-burden in schizophrenia: a five year follow-up study in Butajira, Ethiopia. Ethiop Med J. 2012;50(2):125–33.
3. Chandra PS, Kommu JVS, Rudhran V. Schizophrenia in women and children: a selective review of literature from developing countries. Inter Rev Psychiatry. 2012;24(5):467–82.
4. Hailemariam M, Fekadu A, Selamu M, Medhin G, Prince M, Hanlon C. Equitable access to integrated primary mental healthcare for people with severe mental disorders in Ethiopia: a formative study. Int J Equity Health. 2016;15(1):1.
5. Afe TO, Emedoh TC, Ogunsemi O, Adegbohun AA. Intimate partner violence, psychopathology and the women with schizophrenia in an outpatient clinic south-south Nigeria. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:197.
Cited by
13 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献