Abstract | March 11, 2024
Mental Health Stigma Radio Intervention: Qualitative Effects of a Radio Intervention to Reduce Mental Health Stigma In Rural Uganda
Learning Objectives
- Identify the stigmas currently associated with mental illness in rural Uganda
- Discuss stigma attached to mental illness has adverse impacts on mental health service use and on people with mental illness
- Examine the main themes that we drew from our in-depth interview and focus groups that were elicited by the radio intervention
Background: Despite its widespread impact on populations, mental health conditions are often stigmatized, resulting in a lack of public awareness and access to treatment that deters individuals from seeking help, particularly in low-resource settings and rural areas. Uganda and other sub-Saharan African countries have documented various human rights violations against the mentally ill, including emotional and physical abuse, as well as exclusion from mainstream society due to pervasive stigma and discrimination. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel intervention to reduce mental illness stigma and improve healthcare-seeking behaviors in rural Uganda.
Methods: A 45-minute radio intervention was created based on a previously successful community-led theater intervention that was produced by community health workers with instruction of educational material. The adapted radio intervention was played for 17 in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups consisting of 5-6 participants to evaluate the impact of the drama. Qualitative analysis of the radio intervention was conducted using framework analysis by mapping themes onto a matrix to develop and assess the intervention’s potential effectiveness in reducing mental health stigma.
Results: The framework analysis involved detailed feedback received via qualitative interviews to identify themes of the intervention aimed to address mental health stigma. These themes encompassed education, awareness, entertainment, treatment, and social acceptance. The radio intervention effectively educated the audience about factors that contribute to mental illness, including stressors and substance use, and expanded awareness beyond psychosis. The intervention elicited a shift in the perception of treatment rooted in religious and traditional practices to an understanding of the accessibility and efficacy of medicine. Furthermore, the intervention fostered an awareness of the need for community support and respect.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated the utility of a radio intervention to reduce mental health stigma through increased awareness of the signs of mental illness, a change in perception of how mental illnesses can be treated, and increased community support for those with mental illness. Future research should assess the intervention’s impact on stigma reduction and explore scaling possibilities. Addressing mental health stigma is crucial to promote healthcare-seeking behaviors in rural and low-resource settings to improve health outcomes.
References and Resources
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- Simpson JK, Wilson M, Ahmed AA, Mizara A, Clarke A, McBride SR. An exploratory study using framework analysis to investigate health-seeking behaviour in patients with psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 2017 Sep;177(3):742-750. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15307. Epub 2017 May 12. PMID: 28083871.
