A comparative study of self stigma between HIV/AIDS and schizophrenia patients

Objective: To compare and assess the extent, domains and socio-demographic correlates of self-stigma in schizophrenia and HIV positive patients. Method: Schizophrenia (study group) out patients (n = 91) and HIV positive (comparison group) out-patients (n=91) from 2 hospitals in Lagos, were administered a socio-demographic questionnaire to evaluate various socio-demographic variables, and a modified version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), as a measure of their self-stigma. Analysis was done using the statistical package for social sciences.Results: A total of 43(47.3%) schizophrenia and 35 (38.5%) HIV positive patients were classified as having "moderate-severe" self-stigma. Majority of the respondents in both groups had been aware of their diagnosis between 1-5 years. The socio-demographic correlates of high self-stigma in the schizophrenia group were low level of education and unemployment; while for the HIV positive group, it was being single. The schizophrenia patients had a significantly higher level of self-stigma over all and also same on the alienation, discrimination and stereotype experience sub-scales than the HIV group. Conclusion: Self-stigma is more evident in schizophrenia patients than HIV positive patients, which are both debilitating and highly stigmatized illnesses. Urgent attention thus needs to be put in place, by creating more support and advocacy groups in the country to reduce the level of stigma in them, thus improving their overall quality of life.