Yoruba World View and the nature of Psychotic Illness

Zachariah, Mathew; Kuyinu, A; Coker, Ann L.; Ojo, Olatunji; Isichei, B.

doi:10.4314/ajpsy.v12i2.43733

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…For many of the mPRIME items, questions regarding “special” abilities, prediction of the future, or presence of “superstitions” may be looked upon as somewhat normative depending on the population or the setting; as such, high scores on such items from a cohort that is not help-seeking may be less informative (the false positive group in our study in fact scored highest among the entire sample on the mPRIME item of “special or supernatural gifts”). Indeed, what is considered a sign of definite or possible pathology verses a characteristic of a culturally normative worldview or outlook varies between groups and has been found to be variable both within Africa as well as compared to cultures outside the continent [31-33]. However, an individual who is at risk for possible psychosis may not approach such questions as openly and may take a more concrete view of them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a modified version of the PRIME screen for psychosis-risk symptoms in a non-clinical Kenyan youth sample

Owoso

Ndetei

Mbwayo

et al. 2014

Comprehensive Psychiatry

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Background The PRIME screen is a self-administered questionnaire designed to quickly assess individuals at risk for developing a psychotic disorder. It is shorter in both length and administration time compared to the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS)—a standard instrument for psychosis prodromal risk assessment. Validation of the PRIME against the SIPS has not been reported in large non-clinical populations. Methods A culturally modified version of the PRIME screen (mPRIME) was administered to Kenyan youth between the ages of 14 and 29. 182 completed both the SIPS and mPRIME. Validation measures (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value) were calculated and the study sample was then broken down into true positives, false positives, and false negatives for comparison on different quantitative measures. Results Using previously suggested thresholds for a positive screen, the mPRIME had a sensitivity of 40% and a specificity of 64.8% for our entire sample. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 12.3% and 89.7%, respectively. Breaking the sample down by questionnaire outcome showed that true-positive individuals scored higher on average rate and intensity of endorsement of mPRIME items compared to false-positive and false-negatives, while false-negatives on average registered disagreement on all mPRIME questionnaire items. Conclusions The mPRIME does not appear to be an effective screener of at-risk individuals for psychosis in our non-clinical sample. Further validation efforts in other general populations are warranted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a modified version of the PRIME screen for psychosis-risk symptoms in a non-clinical Kenyan youth sample

Owoso

Ndetei

Mbwayo

et al. 2014

Comprehensive Psychiatry

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“…The products of this particular industry have also achieved an unparalleled ubiquity in the region of sub-Saharan Africa with continent-wide broadcast through satellite TV and other electronic media (49). Nollywood films are extremely popular among Nigerians, and content analysis showed that they often contain scenes depicting mental illness in line with culturally entrenched explanatory models, with scant representation of mainstream psychiatry perspectives (50)(51)(52).…”

Section: Identifying Potential Partnersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health service utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: is public mental health literacy the problem? Setting the perspectives right

Atilola

2015

Glob Health Promot

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The severely constrained resources for mental health service in less-developed regions like sub-Saharan Africa underscore the need for good public mental health literacy as a potential additional mental health resource. Several studies examining the level of public knowledge about the nature and dynamics of mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade had concluded that such knowledge was poor and had called for further public enlightenment. What was thought to be mental health 'ignorance' has also been blamed for poor mainstream service utilization. These views however assume that non-alignment of the views of community dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa with the biomedical understanding of mental illness connotes 'ignorance', and that correcting such 'ignorance' will translate to improvements in service utilization. Within the framework of contemporary thinking in mental health literacy, this paper argues that such assumptions are not culturally nuanced and may have overrated the usefulness of de-contextualized public engagement in enhancing mental health service utilization in the region. The paper concludes with a discourse on how to contextualize public mental health enlightenment in the region and the wider policy initiatives that can improve mental health service utilization.

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“…Traditional healers still have high influence on people’s decisions. Part of their health beliefs is that illnesses may originate from one or a combination of three forces; the magical practices (witches or sorcerers), natural events (environmental, hereditary) and supernatural occurrence (destiny or the individual’s double spirits) [ 37 - 39 ]. It has also been documented that many Nigerians approach treatment of diseases by utilizing Western medicine in combination with treatments offered by traditional healers and “spiritual” centers [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruitment of Yoruba families from Nigeria for genetic research: experience from a multisite keloid study

et al. 2014

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BackgroundMore involvement of sub-Saharan African countries in biomedical studies, specifically in genetic research, is needed to advance individualized medicine that will benefit non-European populations. Missing infrastructure, cultural and religious beliefs as well as lack of understanding of research benefits can pose a challenge to recruitment. Here we describe recruitment efforts for a large genetic study requiring three-generation pedigrees within the Yoruba homelands of Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify genes responsible for keloids, a wound healing disorder. We also discuss ethical and logistical considerations that we encountered in preparation for this research endeavor.MethodsProtocols for this bi-national intercultural study were approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the US and the ethics committees of the Nigerian institutions for consideration of cultural differences. Principles of community based participatory research were employed throughout the recruitment process. Keloid patients (patient advisors), community leaders, kings/chiefs and medical directors were engaged to assist the research teams with recruitment strategies. Community meetings, church forums, and media outlets (study flyers, radio and TV announcements) were utilized to promote the study in Nigeria. Recruitment of research participants was conducted by trained staff from the local communities. Pedigree structures were re-analyzed on a regular basis as new family members were recruited and recruitment challenges were documented.ResultsTotal recruitment surpassed 4200 study participants over a 7-year period including 79 families with complete three-generation pedigrees. In 9 families more than 20 family members participated, however, in 5 of these families, we encountered issues with pedigree structure as members from different branches presented inconsistent family histories. These issues were due to the traditional open family structure amongst the Yoruba and by beliefs in voodoo or in juju. In addition, family members living in other parts of the country or abroad complicated timely and complete family recruitment.ConclusionsOrganizational, logistics and ethics challenges can be overcome by additional administrative efforts, good communication, community involvement and education of staff members. However, recruitment challenges due to infrastructural shortcomings or cultural and religious beliefs can lead to significant delays, which may negatively affect study time lines and expectations of funding agencies.

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Yoruba World View and the nature of Psychotic Illness

Abstract: A Af fr ri ic ca an n J Jo ou ur rn na al l o of f P Ps sy yc ch hi ia at tr ry y • May 2009

Cited by 11 publications

References 10 publications

Validation of a modified version of the PRIME screen for psychosis-risk symptoms in a non-clinical Kenyan youth sample

Validation of a modified version of the PRIME screen for psychosis-risk symptoms in a non-clinical Kenyan youth sample

Mental health service utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: is public mental health literacy the problem? Setting the perspectives right

Recruitment of Yoruba families from Nigeria for genetic research: experience from a multisite keloid study

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