A comparison of chamba (marijuana) abusers and general psychiatric admissions in Malawi.
The study aimed to provide the first general description of chamba-related admissions to Zomba Mental Hospital, the major psychiatric facility in Malawi, and to analyse the distinctiveness of this patient group from other admissions. A questionnaire was verbally administered to 50 chamba abusers and 50 other patients matched by gender, age, and admission date. The typical chamba abusing patient is: 27, male, a subsistence farmer, takes the drug because it is the cheapest form of intoxication, reports 'seeing things clearly' (immediate effect), and general apathy (long-term); and compared to other patients is more likely to originate from a chamba-growing area, less likely to have been raised by his natural parents, and has had more schooling.
Carr
S
S
Department of Psychology, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba.
Ager
A
A
Nyando
C
C
Moyo
K
K
Titeca
A
A
Wilkinson
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors