Emotional Difficulties and Experiences of Stigma among Persons with Lymphatic Filariasis in Plateau State, Nigeria

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic and often disfiguring condition that predominantly affects the rural poor and leads to social exclusion, stigma, and discrimination. Little is currently known about the emotional difficulties and stigma experiences among persons living with LF in Nigeria. Our s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health and human rights 2018-06, Vol.20 (1), p.27-40
Main Authors: ABDULMALIK, JIBRIL, NWEFOH, EMEKA, OBINDO, JAMES, DAKWAK, SAMUEL, AYOBOLA, MOTUNRAYO, UMARU, JOHN, SAMUEL, ELISHA, OGOSHI, CHRISTOPHER, EATON, JULIAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Anger
Communities
Community involvement
Community life
Depressive disorders
Disabilities
Disabled persons
Disabled Persons - psychology
Discrimination
Elephantiasis, Filarial - psychology
Emotional responses
Emotions
Female
Females
Filarial elephantiasis
Filariasis
Focus Groups
Frustration
Group discussion
Hopelessness
Human Rights
Humans
Illnesses
Interviews as Topic
Male
Males
Mental health
Middle Aged
Neglected diseases
Nigeria
Non-state actors
Pessimism
Qualitative Research
Respondents
Rural areas
Rural communities
Rural poverty
Sadness
Social exclusion
Social Stigma
SPECIAL SECTION ON NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Stigma
Suicidal ideation
Suicide
Tropical medicine
Worry
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Description
Summary:Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic and often disfiguring condition that predominantly affects the rural poor and leads to social exclusion, stigma, and discrimination. Little is currently known about the emotional difficulties and stigma experiences among persons living with LF in Nigeria. Our study evaluated the emotional difficulties and stigma experienced by persons with LF in Plateau State, Nigeria. We utilized a combination of qualitative data instruments comprising focus group discussions, McGill’s Illness Narrative Interviews, and key informant interviews. We transcribed and analyzed the data using a combination of inductive and deductive coding approaches. Sixtynine respondents were interviewed: 37 females and 32 males. The prevalent community perception of LF was the belief that it was a spiritual problem. Emotional reactions included feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger, frustration, worry, and suicidal ideation. These experiences, including those of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion, culminated in difficulties with occupational functioning, marital life, and community participation. Our findings highlight the value of a rights-based approach that emphasizes state and non-state actors’ need to provide access to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health, and to protect persons with LF from stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion.
ISSN:1079-0969
2150-4113
2150-4113