Original Research

Evaluation of primary mental health care in North West province – a qualitative view

Claire van Deventer, Ian Couper, Anne Wright, Anne Wright, john tumbo, Charles Kyeyune
South African Journal of Psychiatry | Vol 14, No 4 | a87 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v14i4.87 | © 2008 Claire van Deventer, Ian Couper, Anne Wright, Anne Wright, john tumbo, Charles Kyeyune | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 07 August 2008 | Published: 01 December 2008

About the author(s)

Claire van Deventer, Univ of Witwatersrand, Dept Family Medicine, South Africa
Ian Couper, Wits University Family medicine and rural health, South Africa
Anne Wright, Dept Family Medicine, Univ of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Anne Wright, Dept Family Medicine, Univ of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
john tumbo, Dept Family Medicine, MEDUNSA, South Africa
Charles Kyeyune,, South Africa

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Abstract

Background. Due to many complaints by health care workers and patients and a perceived poor standard of care, the mental health care services in the North West province were assessed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The Mental Health Care Act of 2002 makes provision for the integration of services into primary health care. Previously, dedicated mental health care co-ordinators were doing the bulk of the management of this category of patients.

Methodology. The qualitative part of the study consisted of free attitude interviews with professional nurses at clinics and focus group interviews with patients, caregivers and mental health care coordinators.

Results. There was general satisfaction with the current services. Some dissatisfaction was expressed regarding issues of individualised care versus integration into the general primary care services. Concerns were expressed about resource constraints – in terms of human and physical resources, communication, training, and the role of specialised care.

Conclusion. This study highlights issues around integration of mental health care services into primary care, and has provided information for managers and clinicians to utilise in the improvement of mental health care.


Keywords

Mental health evaluation district

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