Attitudes towards schizophrenia and associated factors among community members in Hossana town: a mixed method study

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders have been identified as being one of the public health issues throughout the world. More than 24 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia. However, there is little information about the attitude toward people with Schizophrenia in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess attitudes toward people with Schizophrenia and associated factors among residents of Hossana town, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches among 417 households and three FGDs. The interviewer-administered standard tool was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and median are computed. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors affecting community perception and attitude toward people with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Of the study participants, 194 (46.5%) had positive attitudes toward people with schizophrenia. Eccentric behavior and wandering were the most commonly mentioned manifestation. Besides, Substance misuse, loss of loved ones, and conflict with family as the perceived cause, and spiritual or traditional methods as the preferred treatment for people with schizophrenia. Moreover, participants with no family history of schizophrenia were six times [6.3(2.55–15.77)] more likely to develop a negative attitude towards schizophrenia than those with a family history of schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: In this study, the findings of this study indicate more than half of the participants had a negative attitude toward people with schizophrenia. Eccentric behavior and wandering were the most commonly mentioned manifestation. Substance misuse, loss of loved ones, and conflict with family have been perceived causes of schizophrenia. Spiritual/traditional places were preferred places for the treatment. Having a family history of schizophrenia was the only factor associated with attitude towards schizophrenia. Therefore, due attention should be given to changing negative attitudes towards schizophrenia, reducing potential schizophrenia-predisposing factors, and enhancing community awareness to seek medical help as early as possible when such kinds of events occur.