Health system preparedness for integration of mental health services in rural Liberia

Autor: Janice L. Cooper, Brandon A. Kohrt, Wilfred Gwaikolo
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Social Stigma
Psychological intervention
Health Services Accessibility
0302 clinical medicine
Health care
Medicine
030212 general & internal medicine
Referral and Consultation
HRHIS
Health Policy
Mental Disorders
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Focus Groups
Primary care
Government Programs
Female
Mental health
0305 other medical science
Attitude to Health
Research Article
Mental Health Services
medicine.medical_specialty
Attitude of Health Personnel
Health Personnel
Global health
Developing countries
03 medical and health sciences
Health systems
Nursing
Humans
Family
Health policy
Psychotropic Drugs
030505 public health
Medical Assistance
Primary Health Care
business.industry
Public health
International health
lcsh:RA1-1270
Liberia
Stigma
Health promotion
Family medicine
Barriers to care
Africa
Rural Health Services
business
Delivery of Health Care
Zdroj: BMC Health Services Research, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017)
BMC Health Services Research
ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2447-1
Popis: Background There are increasing efforts and attention focused on the delivery of mental health services in primary care in low resource settings (e.g., mental health Gap Action Programme, mhGAP). However, less attention is devoted to systematic approaches that identify and address barriers to the development and uptake of mental health services within primary care in low-resource settings. Our objective was to prepare for optimal uptake by identifying barriers in rural Liberia. The country’s need for mental health services is compounded by a 14-year history of political violence and the largest Ebola virus disease outbreak in history. Both events have immediate and lasting mental health effects. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, consisting of qualitative interviews with 22 key informants and six focus group discussions. Additional qualitative data as well as quantitative data were collected through semi-structured assessments of 19 rural primary care health facilities. Data were collected from March 2013 to March 2014. Results Potential barriers to development and uptake of mental health services included lack of mental health knowledge among primary health care staff; high workload for primary health care workers precluding addition of mental health responsibilities; lack of mental health drugs; poor physical infrastructure of health facilities including lack of space for confidential consultation; poor communication support including lack of electricity and mobile phone networks that prevent referrals and phone consultation with supervisors; absence of transportation for patients to facilitate referrals; negative attitudes and stigma towards people with severe mental disorders and their family members; and stigma against mental health workers. Conclusions To develop and facilitate effective primary care mental health services in a post-conflict, low resource setting will require (1) addressing the knowledge and clinical skills gap in the primary care workforce; (2) improving physical infrastructure of health facilities at care delivery points; and (3) implementing concurrent interventions designed to improve attitudes towards people with mental illness, their family members and mental health care providers.
Databáze: OpenAIRE