Exploring the Stigma Towards Schizophrenia: Belizean Nurses Perspective

This study aimed to examine how demographic and professional variables contribute to stigma towards schizophrenia by nurses in Belize. Understanding the underlying factors of stigma is essential for developing solutions that promote a more patient-centered environment for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. The research examined how demographic and professional factors such as age, sex, post, years of experience, previous encounter, and ethnicity are associated with stigma-related beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions. A total of 207 nurses were identified as eligible to participate based on staffing records from selected institutions. Of these, 55 nurses responded and completed the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and means were used to summarize the data. In contrast, non-parametric tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and log-transformed multiple regression analysis were used due to the small sample size and non-normal distribution of the data. The findings revealed that professional job posts were significantly associated with stigma in the Kruskal-Wallis test. However, no independent variables were significant in the multiple regression analysis. These results suggest that professional roles may influence stigma towards schizophrenia in Belize, indicating that further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to stigma and to develop effective strategies for reducing it. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Belize.