Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities
| dc.contributor.author | Myers, B | |
| dc.contributor.author | Fakier, N | |
| dc.contributor.author | Louw, J | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-06-13T08:55:37Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-06-13T08:55:37Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2016-01-11T09:00:35Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Objective: Access to substance abuse treatment among historically disadvantaged communities (HDCs) in Cape Town, South Africa is limited, despite a growing demand for services. Although research has reported on structural barriers to treatment access, nonstructural factors remain largely unexplored. The aim of this paper is to describe two nonstructural influences on the use of substance abuse treatment services for people from HDCs: stigma and negative beliefs about treatment. Method: Findings from the qualitative component of a multi-method study are reported. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 key informants, all of whom worked or lived in HDCs in the greater Cape Town area. Content and thematic techniques were used to analyse data. Results: According to key informants (i) stigma towards individuals with substance use disorders was prevalent in HDCs and negatively impacted on attempts to access services; (ii) negative beliefs about the quality and effectiveness of treatment were commonplace and acted as barriers to the use of existing services; and (iii) several factors contributed to these nonstructural barriers including media representations of both individuals with substance use disorders and treatment facilities for these disorders. Conclusion: This paper moves beyond the description of structural barriers to treatment to describe how two nonstructural factors, stigma and negative beliefs about treatment, hinder treatment seeking for substance use disorders. Recommendations for addressing these barriers include efforts to (i) shift discourses about substance abuse treatment, (ii) improve service quality, and (iii) address myths and misconceptions about treatment. | |
| dc.identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajpsy.v12i3.48497 | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Myers, B., Fakier, N., & Louw, J. (2009). Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities. <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24572 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Myers, B, N Fakier, and J Louw "Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities." <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i> (2009) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24572 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Myers, B., Fakier, N., & Louw, J. (2009). Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities. African Journal of Psychiatry, 12(3). | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Journal Article AU - Myers, B AU - Fakier, N AU - Louw, J AB - Objective: Access to substance abuse treatment among historically disadvantaged communities (HDCs) in Cape Town, South Africa is limited, despite a growing demand for services. Although research has reported on structural barriers to treatment access, nonstructural factors remain largely unexplored. The aim of this paper is to describe two nonstructural influences on the use of substance abuse treatment services for people from HDCs: stigma and negative beliefs about treatment. Method: Findings from the qualitative component of a multi-method study are reported. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 key informants, all of whom worked or lived in HDCs in the greater Cape Town area. Content and thematic techniques were used to analyse data. Results: According to key informants (i) stigma towards individuals with substance use disorders was prevalent in HDCs and negatively impacted on attempts to access services; (ii) negative beliefs about the quality and effectiveness of treatment were commonplace and acted as barriers to the use of existing services; and (iii) several factors contributed to these nonstructural barriers including media representations of both individuals with substance use disorders and treatment facilities for these disorders. Conclusion: This paper moves beyond the description of structural barriers to treatment to describe how two nonstructural factors, stigma and negative beliefs about treatment, hinder treatment seeking for substance use disorders. Recommendations for addressing these barriers include efforts to (i) shift discourses about substance abuse treatment, (ii) improve service quality, and (iii) address myths and misconceptions about treatment. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - African Journal of Psychiatry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities TI - Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24572 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24572 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Myers B, Fakier N, Louw J. Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities. African Journal of Psychiatry. 2009; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24572. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Psychology | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Humanities | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.source | African Journal of Psychiatry | |
| dc.source.uri | https://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/african-journal-of-psychiatry.php | |
| dc.title | Stigma, treatment beliefs, and substance abuse treatment use in historically disadvantaged communities | |
| dc.type | Journal Article | en_ZA |
| uct.type.filetype | Text | |
| uct.type.filetype | Image | |
| uct.type.publication | Research | en_ZA |
| uct.type.resource | Article | en_ZA |