Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia

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dc.contributor.authorKapungwe, A
dc.contributor.authorCooper, S
dc.contributor.authorMayeya, J
dc.contributor.authorMwanza, J
dc.contributor.authorMwape, L
dc.contributor.authorSikwese, A
dc.contributor.authorLund, C
dc.contributor.authorMental Health and Poverty Project Research Programme Consortium
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-08T07:46:36Z
dc.date.available2016-09-08T07:46:36Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.date.updated2016-01-08T09:30:10Z
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this study was to explore health care providers’ attitudes towards people with mental illness within two districts in Zambia. It sought to document types of attitudes of primary health care providers towards people suffering from mental illness and possible predictors of such attitudes. This study offers insights into how health care providers regard people with mental illness that may be helpful in designing appropriate training or re-training programs in Zambia and other low-income African countries. Method: Using a pilot tested structured questionnaire, data were collected from a total of 111 respondents from health facilities in the two purposively selected districts in Zambia that the Ministry of Health has earmarked as pilot districts for integrating mental health into primary health care. Results: There are widespread stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes among primary health care providers toward mental illness and those who suffer from it. These findings confirm and add weight to the results from the few other studies which have been conducted in Africa that have challenged the notion that stigma and discrimination of mental illness is less severe in African countries. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to start developing more effective awareness-raising, training and education programmes amongst health care providers. This will only be possible if there is increased consensus, commitment and political will within government to place mental health on the national agenda and secure funding for the sector. These steps are essential if the country is improve the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and realize the ideals enshrined in the progressive health reforms undertaken over the last decade.
dc.identifier.apacitationKapungwe, A., Cooper, S., Mayeya, J., Mwanza, J., Mwape, L., Sikwese, A., ... (2011). Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia. <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21723en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKapungwe, A, S Cooper, J Mayeya, J Mwanza, L Mwape, A Sikwese, C Lund, and "Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia." <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i> (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21723en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKapungwe, A., Cooper, S., Mayeya, J., Mwanza, J., Mwape, L., Sikwese, A., & Lund, C. (2011). Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia. African journal of psychiatry, 14(4), 290-297.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Kapungwe, A AU - Cooper, S AU - Mayeya, J AU - Mwanza, J AU - Mwape, L AU - Sikwese, A AU - Lund, C AU - Mental Health and Poverty Project Research Programme Consortium AB - The aim of this study was to explore health care providers’ attitudes towards people with mental illness within two districts in Zambia. It sought to document types of attitudes of primary health care providers towards people suffering from mental illness and possible predictors of such attitudes. This study offers insights into how health care providers regard people with mental illness that may be helpful in designing appropriate training or re-training programs in Zambia and other low-income African countries. Method: Using a pilot tested structured questionnaire, data were collected from a total of 111 respondents from health facilities in the two purposively selected districts in Zambia that the Ministry of Health has earmarked as pilot districts for integrating mental health into primary health care. Results: There are widespread stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes among primary health care providers toward mental illness and those who suffer from it. These findings confirm and add weight to the results from the few other studies which have been conducted in Africa that have challenged the notion that stigma and discrimination of mental illness is less severe in African countries. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to start developing more effective awareness-raising, training and education programmes amongst health care providers. This will only be possible if there is increased consensus, commitment and political will within government to place mental health on the national agenda and secure funding for the sector. These steps are essential if the country is improve the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and realize the ideals enshrined in the progressive health reforms undertaken over the last decade. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - African Journal of Psychiatry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia TI - Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21723 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21723
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKapungwe A, Cooper S, Mayeya J, Mwanza J, Mwape L, Sikwese A, et al. Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia. African Journal of Psychiatry. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21723.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Healthen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceAfrican Journal of Psychiatry
dc.source.urihttp://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/medjda2
dc.subject.otherMental health
dc.subject.otherStigma
dc.subject.otherDiscrimination
dc.subject.otherPrimary health care givers
dc.titleAttitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: evidence from two districts in Zambia
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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