Poreddi Vijayalakshmi

Perceived human rights violation in persons with mental illness: Role of education

Background: People with mental illness are vulnerable to human rights violations and people with illiteracy and mental illness are at a double disadvantage. Objective: To determine the role of education in ascertaining human rights needs of people with mental illness. Methodology: This was a descriptive study carried out among randomly selected (N = 100) recovered psychiatric patients with mental illness in the past based on the Clinical Global Impression – Improvement scale at a tertiary care centre. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using structured needs assessment questionnaire comprising two sections related to family and community domains. Data were analysed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: Our findings revealed that human rights needs in the physical needs dimension – i.e. access to electricity (χ 2 = 5.523, p < .019) and safe drinking water facilities (χ 2 = 9.665, p < .022) – were rated higher in illiterates than in literates. The human rights needs in emotional dimension – i.e. feeling separated from their families because of their illness (χ 2 = 13.118, p < .004), afraid of family members (χ 2 = 13.388, p < .004) and called filthy nicknames (χ 2 = 17.759, p < .000) – were rated higher in literates than in illiterates. The human rights needs in the religious needs dimension – i.e. allowed to go to temple, church, mosque etc. (χ 2 = 12.000, p < .007) – and in the social needs dimension – i.e. friendliness with family members –were rated higher in illiterates than in literates (χ 2 = 9.661, p < .022). Conclusion: Empowering people with mental illness by providing adequate opportunity to pursue education will play an important role in fulfilling the obligation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Gender differences in mental health literacy of family caregivers of persons with mental illness: an Indian perspective

Research on mental health literacy in India is limited despite increasing growing evidence of mental illness among general population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender differences in mental health literacy of family caregivers of persons with mental illness. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among 161 randomly selected caregivers of persons with mental illness at outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. This study supports the previous research that gender differences exist in mental health literacy of persons with mental illness. Men were less literate than women regarding knowledge of people with mental illness as well women hold better positive attitudes towards persons with mental illness. Hence, gender differences need to be considered in developing mental health literacy programmes for family caregivers of mentally ill and general population.

Gender Differences in Body Mass Index, Body Weight Perception, weight satisfaction, disordered eating and Weight control strategies among Indian Medical and Nursing Undergraduates

OBJECTIVES To assess gender disparity in body weight perception, Body Mass Index (BMI), weight satisfaction and role of depression among undergraduate Medical and Nursing students. METHODS A descriptive cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in conveniently selected medical (n=241) and nursing (n=213) students of Bangalore, South India. Data was collected using self-administered SCOFF questionnaires. RESULTS Our findings revealed that men had a significantly higher BMI than women (t=5.403, p<0.001). More number of women compared to men, perceived themselves as over weight (74.8%) and not satisfied with their weight status (81.6%). More men than women scored positively for disordered eating behaviors on SCOFF (45.4% vs. 31.1%) and EAT scale (16.5% vs. 8.7%). While, 48.2% of the women practice binge eating, 41.2% of the men practice it (p<0.004); more men (47.4%) than women (25.4%) exercised for more than sixty minutes (p<0.001) to control their weight. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate small differences between the genders that have to be taken in consideration in planning interventional programs to prevent eating disorders in this population.

Gender-related differences in the human rights needs of patients with mental illness.

Background: Individuals with mental illness commonly experience human rights violations while seeking to meet their basic needs. There is lack of research in developing countries on gender-related differences in human rights needs. Purpose: This study investigated gender differences in perceived human rights needs at the family and community levels in individuals with mental illness in India. Methods: This descriptive study surveyed 100 asymptomatic individuals with mental illness at a tertiary care center. Subject selection employed a random sampling method. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews based on a structured needs assessment questionnaire. Data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Subjects enjoyed a satisfactory level of fulfillment in the physical dimension of human rights needs, which included food, housing, and clothing. Men expressed lower satisfaction than women with perceived human rights needs fulfillment in the emotional dimension. This included fear of family members (&khgr;2 = 9.419, p < .024) and being called derogatory names (&khgr;2 = 8.661, p < .034). Women expressed lower satisfaction than men with perceived human rights needs fulfillment in social and ethical dimensions. The former included freedom to leave the home (&khgr;2 = 11.277, p < .010), and the latter included sexual abuse by family members (&khgr;2 = 9.491, p < .019). Men felt more discriminated than women due to perceptions of mental illness in the community domain (&khgr;2 = 10.197, p < .037). Conclusion: This study suggests that family members and communities need to be educated regarding the human rights needs of people with mental illness and that legislation must be strengthened to meet the human rights needs of this disadvantaged population.

Eating Attitudes, Weight Control Behaviors, Body Image Satisfaction and Depression Level Among Indian Medical and Nursing Undergraduate Students

This was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out among Medical and Nursing students to assess the presence of eating disorders. Data was collected using self administered ‘Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food’ (SCOFF) and ‘Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)’ questionnaires. It was found that 34.1% and 10.4% of the participants were at high risk to suffer from eating disorders on SCOFF and EAT-26 scales. Further, age, gender and education found to have significant association on SCOFF and EAT-26 scores (p < 0.05). Thus, the findings suggest the need for effective interventions to prevent depression and eating disorders among the future health professionals.