An investigation into repeated admission of abused women with mental illness in a psychiatric institution: a case study of selected outpatients in Port Elizabeth.

The aim of this study was to investigate causes of repeated admissions of mentally ill women in a psychiatric institution. The study was conducted in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, which comprises Port Elizabeth, Despatch and Uitenhage. A focus group and unstructured interviews were used to collect data. The focus group consisted of 9 participants, which comprised 7 family members or caregivers of mentally ill women with repeated admissions in a psychiatric institution and 2 professionals, a psychiatric social worker and a doctor. Since this is a relatively new area of study, thus a qualitative research method was used for the researcher to interact with participants in their natural habitat. Snowball sampling was used to locate members of the population. Literature review has demonstrated that continued exposure to abuse has a negative effect on the mental health of the survivor. Some of the women were mentally fit before the abuse, but due to abuse at the hands of their husbands or partners, and sometimes families, became mentally ill. Neglect, lack of understanding of mental illness, defaulting of medication and lack of trained psychiatric professionals in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality were found to be the most common reasons that led to repeated admissions.Thesis (MSoc Sci) (Social Work) -- University of Fort Hare, 202