Gender Flexibility as a Social factor in Men's Recovery from Schizophrenia in Northern Nigeria

Main Article Content

Bello Utoblo
Alan White
Steve Robertson
Laura Serrant

Abstract

Background
Schizophrenia is a severe mental health condition that impacts more heavily on men. In Nigeria, studies on men and health have mainly focused on sexual health, in contrast, men’s experience of schizophrenia and the role of gender in influencing beliefs about their recovery has rarely been studied. This study explored men’s perceptions of developing schizophrenia in northern Nigeria and what emerged as facilitating factors in their recovery.


Method
This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 30 male outpatients with a previous diag-nosis of schizophrenia and 10 mental health professionals. All were recruited through Nigerian psychiatric hospital clinics. A thematic approach informed analysis of the data collected.


Results
A commitment to flexibility in gender-relations emerged as a key finding. Within household members, the meeting of financial needs was talked about interchangeably. This flexible gender-relations was then associ-ated with household poverty reduction, which was previously seen as influencing the men’s recovery from the mental illness. In particular, providing for family needs became a shared responsibility, with departure from traditional gender expectations imposing fewer family hardships. This was also reported as having a bearing on the men’s willingness to access services, which aided recovery.


Conclusion
The influence of flexible gender-relations demonstrated in this study has practice implications for under-standing men’s management of recovery from schizophrenia. Community-focused gender transformative programs for the men and those involved in their care in Nigeria could help engage participants in discus-sions relevant to facilitate changes in gender expectations.

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Article Details

How to Cite
Utoblo, B., White, A., Robertson, S., & Serrant, L. (2019). Gender Flexibility as a Social factor in Men’s Recovery from Schizophrenia in Northern Nigeria. International Journal of Mens Social and Community Health, 2(1), e45-e54. https://doi.org/10.22374/ijmsch.v2i1.9
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Bello Utoblo, Leeds Beckett University

School of Health and Community Studies

Alan White, Leeds Beckett University, UK

School of Health and Community Studies

Steve Robertson, Leeds Beckett University, UK and  University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

School of Health and Community Studies

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