Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T15:30:51.259Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH SYSTEM TO ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH IN ZAMBIA: A POLICY BRIEF

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2012

Lonia Mwape ,
Prudencia Mweemba  and
Joseph Kasonde
Lonia Mwape
Affiliation:
Zambia Forum for Health Research (ZAMFORH) Email: loniamagolo@yahoo.com
Prudencia Mweemba
Affiliation:
Zambia Forum for Health Research (ZAMFORH)
Joseph Kasonde
Affiliation:
Zambia Forum for Health Research (ZAMFORH)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Mental illness constitutes a large proportion of the burden of disease in Zambia. Yet mental health services at the primary care level are either provided in a fragmented manner or are lacking altogether.

Methods: A literature review focused on terms including mental health and primary care and strategic options were analyzed.

Results: From the analysis, two options were considered for integrating mental health into primary health care. An incremental option would start with a pilot project introducing mental health services into primary care with a well-designed evaluation before scaling up. One key advantage of this option is that it is possible to make improvements in the plan, if needed, before scaling up. A comprehensive option would entail introducing mental health services into primary care in all nine provinces of Zambia. In this option, scaling up could occur more rapidly than an incremental approach.

Conclusions: Strategies to implement either option must address several barriers, including insufficient funding for mental health services, inadequate mental health indicators, lack of general public awareness of and social stigma attached to mental illnesses and mental health care not being perceived as cost-effective or affordable.

Keywords

Mental healthMental health servicesIntegrationIncrementalComprehensiveZambiaPrimary carePolicy brief
Type
POLICIES
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , July 2012 , pp. 294 - 300
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Bosch-Capblanch, X, Garner, P. Primary health care supervision in developing countries. Trop Med Int Health. 2008;13:369–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Chipimo, PJ, Fylkesnes, K. Mental distress in the general population in Zambia: Impact of HIV and social factors. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:298–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Chisholm, D, Sekar, K, Koshore Kumar, K, et al.Integration of mental health into primary health care. Demonstration cost-outcome study in India and Pakistan. Br J Psychiatry. 2000;176;581–588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Clement, S, Jarrett, M, Henderson, C, Thornicroft, G. Messages to use in population-level campaigns to reduce mental health-related stigma: Consensus development study. Epidemiol Psychiatr Soc. 2010;19:72–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Ducharme, L, Knudsen, H, Roman, P. Availability of integrated care for co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric conditions. Community Ment Health J. 2006;42:363–375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Grilli, R, Ramsay, C, Minozzi, S. Mass media interventions: Effects on health services utilisation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD000389.Google ScholarPubMed
7.Katontoka, S. User's networks for Africans with mental disorders. Lancet. 2007;370:919–920.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Lewin, S, Munabi-Babigumira, S, Glenton, C, et al.Lay health workers in primary and community health care for maternal and child health and the management of infectious diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(3):CD004015.Google ScholarPubMed
9.Mayeya, J, Chazulwa, R, Mayeya, PN, et al.Zambia country profile. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2004;16:63–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Mental Health and Poverty Project. Mental Health Policy Development and Implementation in Zambia: A Situational Analysis 2008. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/development/ZambiaCountryreport.pdf (accessed June 23, 2010).Google Scholar
11.Ministry of Health. Mental health policy 2005. Lusaka: ZambiaGoogle Scholar
12.Ministry of Health. Annual action plan 2010. Lusaka: MoHGoogle Scholar
13.Ministry of Health. (2005–2011) Ministry of Health Strategic Plan; 2005. Lusaka: MoH.Google Scholar
14.Ministry of Health. National Health Policies and Strategies 1991. Lusaka: Government Printers.Google Scholar
15.Mkhize, N, Molelekoa, J. Community access to mental health services: Lessons and recommendations. University of Kwazulu Natal: School of Psychology; 1999.Google Scholar
16.Mohlakoana, SP. Integration of mental health into primary health care. University of Witwatersrand; 2003.Google Scholar
17.Mwape, L, Sikwese, A, Kapungwe, A, et al.Integrating mental health into primary health care: A care provider's perspective. J Ment Health Syst. 2010;4:4–21.Google ScholarPubMed
18.Mweemba, P, Zeller, R, Ludwick, R, Gosnell, D. Quality of life of Zambians living with HIV/AIDS. Med J Zambia. 2009;36:143–150Google Scholar
19.Petersen, I. Comprehensive integrated primary mental health care for South Africa. Pipedream or possibility. Soc Sci Med. 2000;51:321–334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Prince, M, Patel, V, Saxena, S, et al.No health without mental health. Lancet. 2007;370:859–877.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Saxena, S, Sharan, P, Saraceno, B. Budget and financing of mental health services: Baseline information on 89 countries from WHO's project atlas. J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2003;6:135–143.Google ScholarPubMed
22., WHO.Supporting the Use of Research Evidence (SURE). SURE guides for preparing and using policy briefs: 3. Clarifying the problem. Geneva: WHO; 2010.Google Scholar
23.World Health Organization. Galvanised mental health research in low-and middle-income countries: Role of scientific journals (Joint statement). Bull World Health Organ. 2004;82:226–228.Google Scholar
24.World Health Organization. Mental health atlas. Geneva: WHO; 2005.Google Scholar
25.World Health Organization. Prevention and promotion in mental health 2002. Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
26.World Health Organization. 58th World Health Assembly: Ministerial Summit on Health Research 2005. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA58/A58_22-en.pdf (accessed August 7, 2010).Google Scholar
27.WHO/WONCA. Integrating mental health into primary health care: A global perspective. Geneva: WHO; 2008.Google Scholar