Citation

Carr S, Ager A, Nyando C, Moyo K, Titeca A, Wilkinson M. Soc. Sci. Med. 1994; 39(3): 401-406.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7939857

Abstract

The study aimed to provide the first general description of chamba-related admissions to Zomba Mental Hospital, the major psychiatric facility in Malawi, and to analyse the distinctiveness of this patient group from other admissions. A questionnaire was verbally administered to 50 chamba abusers and 50 other patients matched by gender, age, and admission date. The typical chamba abusing patient is: 27, male, a subsistence farmer, takes the drug because it is the cheapest form of intoxication, reports 'seeing things clearly' (immediate effect), and general apathy (long-term); and compared to other patients is more likely to originate from a chamba-growing area, less likely to have been raised by his natural parents, and has had more schooling.

Language: en