ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is a growing burden of mental illness in low income countries. The situation is further worsened by the high poverty levels in these countries, resulting in difficult choices for their health sectors as regards to responding to the burden of mental health problems. In Uganda, integration of mental health into primary health care (PHC) has been adopted as the most vital strategy for ensuring mental health service delivery to the general population. OBJECTIVES: To identify governance related factors that promote/or hinder integration of mental health into PHC in Uganda. METHODS: A qualitative research design was adopted at national and district level. A total of 18 Key informant interviews were conducted at both levels. Content thematic analysis was the main method of data analysis. FINDINGS: There were positive gains in working on relevant laws and policies. However, both the mental health law and policy are still in draft form. There is also increased responsiveness/participation of key stakeholders; especially at national level in the planning and budgeting for mental health services. This however seems to be a challenge at both district and community level. In terms of efficiency, human resources, finances, medicines and technologies constitute a major drawback to the integration of mental health into PHC. Ethics, oversight, information and monitoring functions though reported to be in place, become weaker at the district level than at national level due to limited finances, human resources gaps and limited technical capacity. Other governance related issues are also reported in this study. CONCLUSIONS: There is some progress especially in the legal and policy arena to support integration of mental health into PHC in Uganda. However, adequate resources are still required to facilitate the effective functioning of all governance pillars that make integration of mental health into PHC feasible in Uganda.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Evidence is needed for the integration of mental health into primary care advocated by the national health sector strategic investment plan in Uganda. AIMS: To describe the processes of developing a district mental healthcare plan (MHCP) in rural Uganda that facilitates integration of mental health into primary care. METHOD: Mixed methods using a situational analysis, qualitative studies, theory of change workshops and partial piloting of the plan at two levels informed the MHCP. RESULTS: A MHCP was developed with packages of care to facilitate integration at the organisational, facility and community levels of the district health system, including a specified human resource mix. The partial embedding period supports its practical application. Key barriers to scaling up the plan were identified. CONCLUSIONS: A real-world plan for the district was developed with involvement of stakeholders. Pilot testing demonstrated its feasibility and implications for future scaling up.
Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Health Workforce , Mental Disorders/therapy , Patient Care Planning/standards , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Developing Countries , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Program Evaluation , Qualitative Research , Rural Population , UgandaABSTRACT
Background Worldwide, a number of reforms have been undertaken with the intention of improving access to mental health services. Notable among these is the integration of mental health services into primary health care, which has been one of the most fundamental healthcare reform recommendations globally.Objectives This paper describes the opportunities for and challenges to the integration of mental health into primary health care in Uganda, as identified in a wider study, aimed at exploring the policy interventions required to address the vicious cycle of mental ill-health and poverty.Methods Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with purposefully selected mental health stakeholders from various sectors. The interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded, and transcripts coded on the basis of a pre-determined coding frame. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted using NVivo7, adopting a framework analysis approach.Results The participants identified a number of opportunities that could be exploited to strengthen the integration process. Notable among these was the political will and prioritisation of mental health at policy level. Poor appreciation of the integration process and attitudinal problems emerged as the most pressing challenges for integration of mental health into primary health care.Conclusion Irrespective of the various opportunities in place, the integration of mental health into primary health care has not yet been fully realised, as it faces a number of challenges within and outside the health sector. This calls for more concerted efforts to scale up activities for effective integration of mental health care into primary health care.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the research programme introduced in this article is to provide new knowledge regarding comprehensive multisectoral approaches to breaking the negative cycle of poverty and mental ill-health. The programme undertakes an analysis of existing mental health policies in four African countries (Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia), and will carry out and evaluate interventions to assist in the development and implementation of mental health policies in those countries, over a five-year period. The four countries in which the programme is being conducted represent a variety of scenarios in mental health policy development and implementation.
