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Related Experiment Videos

Help-seeking pathways among Malay psychiatric patients.

S M Razali1, M A Najib

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan. mrazali@kb.usm.my

The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
|February 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Most Malay psychiatric patients first seek traditional healers (bomoh) before consulting psychiatrists, significantly delaying treatment. Cultural beliefs often act as a barrier to accessing mental healthcare.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Medical Sociology
  • Cultural Anthropology

Background:

  • Understanding help-seeking behavior is crucial for improving mental healthcare access.
  • Malay psychiatric patients often face unique cultural and social influences on their treatment decisions.
  • Traditional healing practices remain prevalent in many communities, impacting conventional medical care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the help-seeking behaviors of Malay psychiatric patients.
  • To identify factors influencing delays in seeking psychiatric treatment.
  • To examine the role of traditional healers (bomoh) in the patient journey.

Main Methods:

  • Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 134 first-time psychiatric clinic attendees.
  • A standard proforma was used to assess help-seeking processes and delays.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Statistical analysis compared patients who consulted traditional healers versus those who did not.

    • Main Results:

    • 69% of patients consulted traditional healers (bomoh) before psychiatrists.
    • Consulting bomohs significantly delayed psychiatric treatment.
    • Consultation of bomohs was higher among married patients, those with severe illnesses, and families believing in supernatural causes.
    • No significant differences were found based on age, gender, education, or occupation.

    Conclusions:

    • The majority of Malay psychiatric patients utilize traditional treatments before seeking psychiatric care.
    • Belief in supernatural causes and strong social support are associated with traditional treatment use.
    • Deep-seated cultural beliefs present a significant barrier to accessing psychiatric services.