Original scientific paper

ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BELIEFS TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS IN A TRADITIONAL FAST DEVELOPING COUNTRY

Abdulbari Bener ; Department of Medical Statistics & Epidemiology, Hamad General Hospital and Hamad, Dept. of Public Health, Medical Corporation & Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
Suhaila Ghuloum ; Department of Psychiatry, Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the ethnic differences in knowledge, attitude and practice towards mental
illness in a sample of Qatari and non-Qatari Arabs.
Subjects and Methods: This is a cross sectional survey conducted in Primary Health Care centers, Qatar from October to June
2009. A representative sample of 3000 Qatari and non-Qatari Arabs above 20 years of age were approached and 2514 subjects
(83.8%) gave consent to participate in this study.
Results: More than non-Qatari Arabs, a significant proportion of Qataris thought that mental illness can be a punishment from
God (44.5% vs 50.6%; p=0.002) and that people with mental illness are mentally retarded (35.1% vs 45.1%; p<0.001). Qatari
nationals had a poor knowledge about causes of mental illness compared to non-Qatari Arabs such as a belief that mental illness is
due to possession of evil spirits (40.5% vs 37.6%) and psychiatric medication will cause addiction (61% vs 57.3%).
Conclusion: The study revealed that there is an ethnic diversity within Arab societies in their knowledge, attitude and practice
towards mental illness.

Keywords

mental illness; practice; knowledge; Qatari; Arab population

Hrčak ID:

76812

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76812

Publication date:

30.6.2011.

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