Research Article
The Pathways to the First Contact with Mental Health Services among Patients with Schizophrenia in Lagos, Nigeria
Table 2
Pathways to care and reasons for choosing nonorthodox+ healers.
| Variable | (%) |
| Pathways to care | | Spiritual | 59 (42.8) | Traditional | 16 (11.6) | GP/medical practitioner | 19 (13.8) | Traditional and spiritual | 20 (14.5) | Psychiatrist (our facility) | 24 (17.4) | Reasons for choosing nonorthodox healers* | | Belief that the illness is due to supernatural factors | 81 (85.3) | Influence of relatives, neighbours, or significant others | 49 (51.6) | Stigma associated with illness | 48 (50.5) | Ignorance about effectiveness of orthodox treatment | 41 (43.2) | Lack of funds/poor access to orthodox care | 33 (34.7) |
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GP: general practitioners.
*Total responses greater than 100% due to multiple responses. Nonorthodox refers to traditional or spiritual healers.
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