THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111 e-ISSN: 2736-075X
Volume 23, No. 2, November 2025
Pages 20-37
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/5202.32.0220
Lived Experiences and Challenges of Psychiatric Outpatients in Sokoto State, Nigeria
1,2Bello Almu and 1Jimoh Amzat
1 Department of Sociology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
2 Medical Social Services Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria
Abstract
This study investigated the lived experiences and treatment challenges of psychiatric outpatients at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto State, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach. Anchored in Social Constructionist Theory, the research explores how mental illness and its treatment are shaped by socio-cultural narratives, institutional practices, and interpersonal interactions. Quantitative data from 820 outpatients revealed that while over 70% reported treatment improvements, 58% experienced rights violations, including lack of privacy, poor communication, and limited autonomy in care. Stigma-related impacts included employment denial (10.49%), marriage obstacles (63.54%), and business restrictions (28.05%). Social reactions varied—45.98% reported kindness, 5.61% faced rudeness, and 21.71% noted authoritative behavior. Complementary qualitative interviews with 36 participants, including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and traditional healers, uncovered the continued role of spiritual beliefs and cultural interpretations in treatment pathways. Traditional healers often serve as first-line providers, offering culturally resonant, though sometimes coercive, interventions. The findings highlight the urgency of developing community-informed, rights-based mental health services that respect patient agency, improve institutional communication, and ethically integrate traditional care practices. The study advocates for reforms that align with both global standards and local realities.
Keywords: Mental illness related stigma, lived experiences of psychiatric patients, Rights-based mental health services