Paper: Depression and Nigerian-Born Immigrant Women in the United States: A Phenomenological Descriptive Study (19th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice)

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

Ifeoma Ezeobele, MSHEd, MSN, RN, CNS, P/MH , Nursing Department, University of Texas, Harris County Psychiatric Center, Houston, TX

Ann Malecha, PhD, RN , College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX

Learning Objective 1: list two to three cultural beliefs that prevent Nigerian-born women from seeking help for depression.

Learning Objective 2: identify themes related to how Nigerian-born women describe and perceive depression.

This phenomenological study explores the perceptions and descriptions of depression in a group of Nigerian-born immigrant women living in the United States (US). A purposive sample of Nigerian-born women, 18 years and older, will be recruited from an urban, southwestern US community to participate in the study. Data from sem-structures interviews will be analyzed following the Colaizzi (1978) method. An inital pilot study with 4 women who have lived in the US less than 5 years has identified 4 themes: a.) depression is described as madness and evil spirit-driven, b.) the stigma of depression results in isolatio/rejection, c.) depression is treated with prayers/spiritual deliverance, and d.) attitudes may be shifting indicating a need for education. Further data collection and analysis will explore those women who have lived in the US for 5 years or less as well as those who have lived in the US more than 5 years.

See more of: POSTERS: Psychiatric/Mental Health for Adults
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