Socio Demographic Profile and Treatment Seeking Behaviour of Koro Patients in an Epidemic Reported from West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Koro is a psychiatric illness prevailing at Asia-pacific region with its strong cultural underpinnings. Several large epidemics of koro were reported from India including West Bengal in last few decades. But till date a well planned follow up study is lacking in literature to understand its course and outcome. Method: The present study was planned with objectives: 1.To determine the socio demographic profile of the study population 2.To find out the treatment seeking behaviour of the study population. In 6 months period, 92 consecutive patients with symptoms of koro reported in different disciplines of a tertiary care government hospital of West Bengal.  Data on socio-demographic profile, referral points, treatment seeking pattern was collected from 64 patients who gave consents. -Result: Among the whole sample (N=64), 76.56% (n=49) were male and 23.44% (n=15) female. Majority were educated up to primary, single, agricultural work or student by occupation, belonged to low income Hindu rural joint family for male and nuclear family for female. Majority were referred from either private or government doctors or hospitals and reported first at non-psychiatric OPD. Almost 95% had new/old case(s) of ‘koro' in their locality. Most of the cases reported of trying home remedies before reporting to the hospital. Conclusion: In all societies any issue related to genitalia of adult males and females governed by a pervasive set of social norms which is sensitive to handle and may only be modified by education.