Stigma toward mental and physical illness: attitudes of healthcare professionals, healthcare students and the general public in Pakistan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The evidence base for stigma in mental health largely originates from high-income countries.

Aims

This study from Pakistan aimed to address the gap in literature on stigma from low- and middle-income countries.

Method

This cross-sectional study surveyed 1470 adults from Karachi, Pakistan. Participants from three groups (healthcare professionals, healthcare students and the general public) completed the adapted Bogardus Social Distance Scale (SDS) as a measure of stigma.

Results

All three groups reported higher scores of stigma toward mental disorders compared with physical disorders. SDS scores for mental illness in the general public were significantly higher than in healthcare students (mean difference (MD) 6.93, 95% CI 5.45-8.45, P < 0.001) and he

SUBMITTER: Husain MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7453804 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature