Abstract:
Introduction: Internalized stigma has been found to be high among patients with mental illness.
Evidences showed that internalized stigma results in poor treatment outcome, increased disability
and high economic burden. Despite the high impact of internalized stigma on mentally ill peoples,
much attention did not paid to it during patients’ management.
Objective: To assess prevalence of internalized stigma and associated factors among patients with
mental illness attending psychiatric follow-up at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized
Hospital, northwest, Ethiopia, 2021.
Method: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with mental illness
attending psychiatric follow at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from
February 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021 and study participants were selected using systematic random
sampling technique. Internalized stigma was measured using internalized stigma of mental illness
29 (ISMI-29) scale. The data was entered in to EPI DATA software and analyzed by SPSS version
20. Descriptive results are presented by tables and charts. Simple and multiple binary logistic
regressions were used to check the association between independent and dependent variables.
Odds ratio with 95% CI was computed and variables having p-value < 0.05 in the multiple logistic
regression model were considered as significantly associated with the dependent variable.
Result: The prevalence of high internalized stigma among patients with mental illness was 27.9
%( 95%CI, 27.4, 37.3). Being female (AOR=2.51, 95%CI, 1.42, 4.43), having history of hospital
admission (AOR=4.97, 95%CI, 2.09, 11.79), not utilizing psychotherapy service (AOR=2.42,
95%CI, 1.12, 5.24), non-adherence to medication treatment (AOR=1.90, 95%CI, 1.03, 3.50), and
low self-esteem (AOR=4.67, 95%CI, 2.19, 9.93) were significantly associated with high
internalized stigma at P value of less than 0.05.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study showed that internalized stigma was high among
patients with mental illness. Additionally, in the management of patients with mental illness,
emphasis should be given to those who are female, have history of hospital admission, doesn’t
utilize psychotherapy service, non-adherent to their medication treatment, and low self-esteem.
