ArticleBMC psychiatry2019
"He can send her to her parents": The interaction between marriageability, gender and serious mental illness in rural Ethiopia.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Burden of care among caregivers of people with mental illness in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Internalised stigma among people with mental illness in Africa, pooled effect estimates and subgroup analysis on each domain: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Real-world comprehensive care of people living with schizophrenia: recommendations across different settings and clinical stages.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2026Article
- Stigma and Relationship and Sexual Life in People with Severe Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review.Community mental health journal · 2026Article
- Article
- Correlates of mental health stigma in the Buyende district of Eastern Uganda.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2026Article
- Substance use among young people in the West Arsi Zone, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2025Article
- Distributed impact of severe mental health conditions in rural Ethiopia, a qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Victimisation in the life of persons with severe mental illness in Uganda: a pluralistic qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Exploring the stigma against people with mental illness in Bangladesh.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2024Article
- Marriage in persons with severe mental illness: A narrative review-based framework for a supported relationship.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2023Review
- Feminist contributions on sexual experiences of women with serious mental illness: a literature review.Archives of women's mental health · 2022Review
- Mental health stigma and discrimination in Ethiopia: evidence synthesis to inform stigma reduction interventions.International journal of mental health systems · 2022Article
- Psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals with schizophrenia: a scoping review protocol.Systematic reviews · 2022Article
- Gender Differences in the Attitudes of Parents Living with Adult Children with Schizophrenia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFor women in most low- and middle-income countries, the diagnosis with serious mental illness (SMI) leads to stigma and challenges related to starting or maintaining marriages. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perspectives on marriage, divorce and family roles of women with SMI in rural Ethiopia.
methodsA qualitative study was conducted in a rural setting of Butajira, South Central Ethiopia. A total of 39 in-depth interviews were carried out with service users (n = 11), caregivers (n = 12), religious leaders (n = 6), health extension workers (n = 4), police officers (n = 2), teachers (n = 2) and government officials (n = 2). Data were analyzed using a thematic approach.
resultsThree themes emerged. (1) Marriage and SMI: Chances of getting married for individuals with SMI in general was perceived to be lower: Individuals with SMI experienced various challenges including difficulty finding romantic partner, starting family and getting into a long-term relationship due to perceived dangerousness and the widespread stigma of mental illness. (2) Gendered experiences of marriageability: Compared to men, women with SMI experienced disproportionate levels of stigma which often continued after recovery. SMI affects marriageability for men with SMI, but mens' chances of finding a marital partner increases following treatment. For women in particular, impaired functioning negatively affects marriageability as ability to cook, care and clean was taken as the measure of suitability. (3) Acceptability of divorce and separation from a partner with SMI: Divorce or separation from a partner with SMI was considered mostly acceptable for men while women were mostly expected to stay married and care for a partner with SMI. For men, the transition from provider to dependent was often acceptable. However, women who fail to execute their domestic roles successfully were considered inept and would be sent back to their family of origin.
conclusionWomen with SMI or those married to partners with SMI are at greater disadvantage. Reducing vulnerabilities through stigma reduction efforts such as community outreach and mental health awareness raising programs might contribute for better social outcomes for women with SMI.
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