The experience of living with vitiligo in Nigeria: a participatory interpretative phenomenological analysis

Taylor, Nick, Maduewesi, Ogo, Vasiliou, Vasilis S. and Thompson, Andrew R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-7222 2024. The experience of living with vitiligo in Nigeria: a participatory interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Health Psychology 10.1177/13591053241261684

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Abstract

Vitiligo is a visible depigmenting skin condition, particularly noticeable on Black skin. There is widespread misunderstanding of the condition. Using a participatory form of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), we conducted eight semistructured interviews with Nigerians living with vitiligo. Participants described their initial attempts to understand the condition, which typically drew on both traditional illness beliefs, religious influences, and the biomedical disease model. All participants reported experiencing marked stigmatization and discrimination. Participants experienced distress associated with thoughts about the personal meaning of the disease including its impact on their appearance and from concerns about anticipated and direct discrimination. Despite the wide-ranging impact, the participants' narratives also contained references to the development of strategies that maintained wellbeing. This study provides valuable insights into the role of faith and traditional beliefs in both the experience and management of vitiligo in Nigeria. These insights can be used to develop individual and community interventions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	1359-1053
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 June 2024
Date of Acceptance:	25 May 2024
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2024 14:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/170088

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