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Mental health stigma and attitudes to psychiatry among Bangladeshi medical students

Author

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  • Noor Ahmed Giasuddin
  • Itzhak Levav
  • Gilad Gal

Abstract

Background: The shortage of specialized human resources in mental health in Bangladesh requires active recruitment of psychiatric residents. In addition, the involvement of positively inclined health personnel, for example, medical doctors, emerges as an immediate priority. Aim: To explore stigma among medical students toward persons with mental disorders (PMDs) and their attitudes toward psychiatry. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Faridpur Medical College in Bangladesh before (First year) and following psychiatric rotation (Fifth year). Students ( N = 200) filled anonymous questionnaires measuring stigma toward PMDs and attitudes to psychiatry. Results: Upper medical school year ( p = .028), older age ( p = .005), mother’s lower academic level ( p = .043), upper and lower socioeconomic level affiliation ( p = .008) and self-consultation for mental or neurological complaints ( p = .032) were associated with increased stigma toward PMDs. More favorable attitudes toward psychiatry were found in upper medical school year ( p = .073) and were significantly associated with female gender ( p = .018) and middle socioeconomic level affiliation ( p = .013). Conclusion: The relative improvement in attitudes toward psychiatry in the upper medical school year is overshadowed by the increased stigma toward PMDs. Specific anti-stigma program in the curriculum and strategies to improve the attitudes are required.

Suggested Citation

  • Noor Ahmed Giasuddin & Itzhak Levav & Gilad Gal, 2015. "Mental health stigma and attitudes to psychiatry among Bangladeshi medical students," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(2), pages 137-147, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:61:y:2015:i:2:p:137-147
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764014537237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Munjireen Sifat & Maisha Huq & Mirza Baig & Naima Tasnim & Kerry M. Green, 2023. "An Examination of Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care, and Their Association with Depression, Stress, Suicidal Ideation, and Wellness in a Bangladeshi University Student Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Cori L. Tergesen & Dristy Gurung & Saraswati Dhungana & Ajay Risal & Prem Basel & Dipesh Tamrakar & Archana Amatya & Lawrence P. Park & Brandon A. Kohrt, 2021. "Impact of Service User Video Presentations on Explicit and Implicit Stigma toward Mental Illness among Medical Students in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Miroslava Janoušková & Aneta Weissová & Tomáš Formánek & Jiří Pasz & Lucie Bankovská Motlová, 2017. "Mental illness stigma among medical students and teachers," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(8), pages 744-751, December.

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