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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
nursing
Attitudes of psychologists and nurses toward suicide and suicide prevention in Ghana: A qualitative study
International Journal of Nursing Studies, Volume 49, No. 6, Year 2012
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Description
Background: One way of preventing suicide has been increasing awareness among health care professionals of their own attitudes and taboos toward suicide and its prevention. Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the attitudes of health professionals toward suicidal behavior and its prevention in Ghana. Methods: A total of 17 informants (9 clinical psychologists and 8 emergency ward nurses) in an urban center were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. Results: We found that the attitudes of these health workers toward suicide and suicide prevention seemed to be transiting between morality and mental health. The psychologists generally saw suicide as a mental health issue, emphasized a caring and empathic view of suicidal persons and approached suicide prevention from a health-service point of view. Mental health education and improvements in primary health care were reported as practical approaches toward suicide prevention. The nurses on the other hand, held a moralistic attitude toward suicide as a crime, viewed suicide persons as blameworthy and approached suicide prevention from a proscriptive perspective. Informal approaches such as talking to people, strengthening the legal code against suicide and threatening suicidal persons with the religious consequences of the act were also indicated as practical approaches to suicide prevention. Educational level, clinical experience with suicidal persons, and religious values, are discussed as influencing the differences in attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention between psychologists and nurses. Conclusion: Health workers in Ghana need training in suicidology to improve both knowledge and skills relevant for suicide prevention. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Osafo, Joseph
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Norway, Trondheim
Norges Teknisk-naturvitenskapelige Universitet
Knizek, Birthe Loa
Norway, Trondheim
Norges Teknisk-naturvitenskapelige Universitet
Akotia, Charity Sylvia
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Hjelmeland, Heidi Marie
Norway, Trondheim
Norges Teknisk-naturvitenskapelige Universitet
Norway, Oslo
Folkehelseinstituttet
Statistics
Citations: 67
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.11.010
ISSN:
00207489
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Mental Health
Study Design
Phenomenological Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Ghana