M222. SURVEY RESULTS FROM TURKEY: KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA, PUBLIC STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
Authors: Haldun Soygur , Alptekin Köksal , Yildiz Mustafa , Penn Çigdem , Merve Avcıoğlu Muazzez , Ucok Alp 
Published: May 2020

Background

This study aims to investigate the perception of schizophrenia, knowledge level about schizophrenia, stigma, discrimination because of schizophrenia and related factors among Turkish people with a representative, public-based large sample.

Methods

The survey was conducted between 4 and 26 September 2019 with a representative sample of 1,030 adults. The interviews were carried out through Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) methodology by a total of 32 experienced interviewers who were given sensitivity training about the mental illness prior the beginning of the fieldwork. The interviews took place in the households of the participants. The sample consisted of participants from 12 nomenclature of units in Turkey, the number of the participants in each region was determined proportional to the population aged 18+ in each city. Additional quotas were set on age, gender, employment and socio- economic status in order to achieve a representative sample of the public opinion. The questionnaire was designed by a committee of academics who are all well experienced in their field and has worked on the stigmatization problem extensively. Statistical analysis was conducted with the use of SPSS. Frequency analysis, cross tabulation and significance testing were conducted.

Results

The sample of the study was consisting of 50% female (n=515) and 50 % male (n=515) participants. In the scope of the research, 1030 participants were asked what mental illness was first thought: schizophrenia was the second mental illness that came to mind first (24,9%) after depression. 95% of the participants reported that they have awareness of schizophrenia as a mental illness which indicates that schizophrenia is the second mental illness among most known mental illnesses. “Do you have knowledge about schizophrenia” question was responded as “yes” by the 61,7% of the participants and they declared their knowledge resources as relatives/friends (44,4%), social media (40,6%), family (37,6%), TV advertisements (34,2%) and internet (23.0%). Some of striking responses to the statements related, public attitudes, social distance and perception of schizophrenia as follow: “Schizophrenia is caused by evil spirits (cins) and black magic” statement was responded as “I agree” by 18.6% of the participants; “I don’t know” by 31.7% of the participants and “I don’t agree” by 49.7% of the participants. “Patients with schizophrenia are generally dangerous and violent” statement was responded as “I agree” by 39,4% of the participants; “I don’t know” by 37.2% of the participants and “I don’t agree” by 23,4 % of the participants. “If I were an employer, I wouldn’t want an employee with schizophrenia” statement was responded as “I agree” by 38,6% of the participants; “I don’t know” by 37.8% of the participants and “I don’t agree” by 23,6 % of the participants. “I wouldn’t like to someone with schizophrenia lived next door to me” statement was responded as “I agree” by 29,1% of the participants; “I don’t know” by 35.0% of the participants and “I don’t agree” by 35,9 % of the participants.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing public stigma and discrimination towards people with schizophrenia in Turkey. In this poster presentation, the results of the study which revealed salient findings related stigmatization attitudes among Turkish people will be demonstrated in detail and implications of the study will be discussed.