American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2015; 3(6): 116-124 Published online December 18, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajpn) doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150306.14 ISSN: 2330-4243 (Print); ISSN: 2330-426X (Online) Perception, Attitude and Associated Factors on Schizophrenia and Depression Among Residents of Hawassa City, South Ethiopia, Cross Sectional Study Getinet Ayano 1, * , Melkamu Agidew 1 , Bereket Duko 2 , Haregwoin Mulat 3 , Melkamu Alemayew 4 1 Department of Research and Training, Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2 Community Health and Leadership Module, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia 3 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia 4 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Email address: ayanogetinet@yahoo.com (G. Ayano), berkole.dad@gmail.com (B. Duko), melkish2002@gmail.com (M. Alemayew) heregwoinmulat@yahoo.com (H. Mulat), melkamuagidew@yahoo.com (M. Agidew) To cite this article: Getinet Ayano, Melkamu Agidew, Bereket Duko, Haregwoin Mulat, Melkamu Alemayew. Perception, Attitude and Associated Factors on Schizophrenia and Depression Among Residents of Hawassa City, South Ethiopia, Cross Sectional Study. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. Vol. 3, No. 6, 2015, pp. 116-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20150306.14 Abstract: Introduction: mental disorders including schizophrenia and depression are becoming one of the public health problems in Ethiopia. However, little is known about perception, and attitude of the public regarding schizophrenia and depression. The main aim of this study was to assess perception, attitude and associated factors of schizophrenia and depression among residents of Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Hawassa city, May 2014. Participants were selected by using multistage sampling method. The study participants were allocated to the selected kebeles (villages) proportionally to their estimated number of households. Data was collected by using structured, pre-tested and interviewer administered questionnaire. The data entry, clearance and analysis were carried out using SPSS version20 statistical software package. Results: Among respondents 66.5% and 56% of respondents have good perception about schizophrenia and poor perception on depression respectively. About 62.7% of respondents have negative attitude towards schizophrenia, but the attitude of majority of the respondents (75.8%) for major depressive disorders is positive. When it was adjusted for potential confounders, Age [AOR=4.79, 95%CI=(2.13-10.77)], income [AOR= 3.41, CI=(2.12-5.50)], getting information from mass media [AOR=1.38, CI=(1.11-2.07)] & information from religious institutions [AOR=0.44, CI=(0.285-0.68)] have statistically significant association with perception on schizophrenia. Age [AOR=3.12, 95%CI= (2.08-4.68)] and educational level [AOR= 2.34, CI= (1.71-5.02)] have statistically significant association with perception on depression. Income [AOR= 4.54, CI= (2.25-9.15)], source of information from health institution [AOR=1.69, CI= (1.03-2.76)] and perception [AOR= 3.05, CI= (2.15-4.34)] have statistically significant association with attitude towards schizophrenia. Educational level [AOR= 1.71, CI= (1.08-2.71)] and perception [AOR= 2.27, CI= (1.57-3.27)] have statistically significant association with attitude towards depression. Conclusion: Age, educational level, Income and source of information’s for perception and educational level, income, source of information and perception for attitude found to be significant predictors. Educating people about schizophrenia and depression by using mass media and health institutions and working with religious institutions is vital. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Depression, Perception, Attitude 1. Introduction Today, mental disorders including schizophrenia and depression are recognized as a public health problem in developed as well as developing countries. At least 40 million people in the world suffer from severe form of mental disorders and about a tenth of adults, an estimated 450 million people worldwide, are affected by mental disorders at any one time. They now account for about 14%