The experiences and meanings of recovery for Swazi women
living with ‘Schizophrenia’

Nxumalo Ngubane, S; McAndrew, SL; Collier, E

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, twenty-four million people live with schizophrenia, 90% living in developing
countries. While most Western cultures recognise service user expertise within the recovery
process this is not evident in developing countries. In particular, Swazi women diagnosed
with schizophrenia experience stigma from family, community and care providers, thus
compromising their recovery process.


Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences and meanings of recovery for Swazi women living with schizophrenia.


Methodology: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used. Fifteen women were recruited from
Swaziland National Psychiatric Hospital out patients’ department, and face to face interviews
were conducted.


Findings: Four super-ordinate themes were identified: (1) The emotionality of ‘illness of the brain’; (2)
Pain! Living with the illness and with others; (3) She is mad just ignore her; and (4) Being better.


Discussion: Discussion focuses on the findings of this study and a number of positive and negative
implications emanating from them; labelling, stigma and the roles of family, culture and religious beliefs on the process of recovery.

Implications for practice: This study provides practitioners with insight into the importance of the socio-cultural context of the lives of women diagnosed with schizophrenia and how, in understanding this,
mental health care could be improved.

Citation

living with ‘Schizophrenia’. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 26(5-6), 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12520

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 1, 2019
• Publication Date: May 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: May 23, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 1, 2020
• Journal: Journal Of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1351-0126
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2850
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 5-6
• Pages: 153-162
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12520
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12520
• Related Public URLs: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652850