A situation analysis of mental health services and legislation in Ghana: challenges for transformation.

نویسندگان

  • A Ofori-Atta
  • U M Read
  • C Lund
چکیده

OBJECTIVE To conduct a situation analysis of the status of mental health care in Ghana and to propose options for scaling up the provision of mental health care. METHOD A survey of the existing mental health system in Ghana was conducted using the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems. Documentary analysis was undertaken of mental health legislation, utilizing the WHO Legislation checklists. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with a broad range of mental health stakeholders (n=122) at the national, regional and district levels. RESULTS There are shortfalls in the provision of mental health care including insufficient numbers of mental health professionals, aging infrastructure, widespread stigma, inadequate funding and an inequitable geographical distribution of services. CONCLUSION Community-based services need to be delivered in the primary care setting to provide accessible and humane mental health care. There is an urgent need for legislation reform, to improve mental health care delivery and protect human rights.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

The Politico-Economic Challenges of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme Implementation

Background National/social health insurance schemes have increasingly been seen in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a vehicle to universal health coverage (UHC) and a viable alternative funding mechanism for the health sector. Several countries, including Ghana, have thus introduced and implemented mandatory national health insurance schemes (NHIS) as part of reform efforts towa...

متن کامل

A situational analysis of child and adolescent mental health services in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia.

OBJECTIVE Approximately one in five children and adolescents (CA) suffer from mental disorders. This paper reports on the findings of a situational analysis of CA mental health policy and services in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia. The findings are part of a 5 year study, the Mental Health and Poverty Project, which aims to provide new knowledge regarding multi-sectoral approaches to br...

متن کامل

The Package for Mental and Social Health Promotion and Drug Abuse Prevention in the Health Transformation Plan: Executive Leadership Challenges and Suggestions

Background and Aim: The “Package for mental and social health promotion and drug abuse prevention” was developed in response to the importance of, and concerns relate to, the mental and social health in the population. Since any policy and plan needs to be assessed to find its weaknesses, strengths and challenges to ensure its successful implementation, this study aimed to find and explain the ...

متن کامل

Volunteering for Health Services in the Middle Part of Ghana: In Whose Interest?

Background In many developing countries like Ghana, community volunteers assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. This study examined factors that influence the motivation and retention of community-based volunteers supporting with work on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana.   Methods Using a sequential mixed-method design...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • African journal of psychiatry

دوره 13 2  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2010