Health system preparedness for integration of mental health services in rural Liberia
Autor: | Janice L. Cooper, Brandon A. Kohrt, Wilfred Gwaikolo |
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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 |
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