title: Attitudes towards and beliefs about schizophrenia in Xhosa families with affected probands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of effective psychoeducational programs for the management of schizophrenia requires an understanding of attitudes towards and beliefs about the disorder in families of affected probands. In order to establish the need for adaptation of Western psychoeducational programs, these variables were investigated in Xhosa speaking families in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Xhosa speaking family members of patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia were recruited on a voluntary basis, and interviewed with a structured belief and attitudes questionnaire adapted from previous studies in the West.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population was drawn from both urban and rural Xhosa communities in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 Xhosa speaking family members participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family members most often recommended treatment with psychotropic medications (88%) and traditional healers (32%), and least often recommended psychotherapy (4%) and meditation (1%). Of the respondents who recommended traditional healing methods, 92% also recommended simultaneous use of allopathic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attitudes towards and beliefs about schizophrenia in family members of patients with schizophrenia may differ substantially from those described in previous work in the West. An understanding of local attitudes and beliefs is crucial for the successful development of local psychoeducational programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch.
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Mbanga
authors.forename: D J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Niehaus
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Mzamo
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Emsley
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005192:Family Health; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000451:nursing*; D013019:South Africa