Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia

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dc.contributor.authorOmar, Mayeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGreen, Andrew Ten_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBird, Philippa Ken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMirzoev, Toliben_ZA
dc.contributor.authorFlisher, Alan Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKigozi, Freden_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLund, Cricken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMwanza, Jasonen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorOfori-Atta, Angela Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMental Health and Poverty Research Programme Consortium (MHaPP)en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-11T12:03:32Z
dc.date.available2015-11-11T12:03:32Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Mental illnesses are increasingly recognised as a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet many countries lack a mental health policy or have an outdated, inappropriate policy. This paper explores the development of appropriate mental health policies and their effective implementation. It reports comparative findings on the processes for developing and implementing mental health policies in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia as part of the Mental Health and Poverty Project. METHODS: The study countries and respondents were purposively selected to represent different levels of mental health policy and system development to allow comparative analysis of the factors underlying the different forms of mental health policy development and implementation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Data analysis was guided by conceptual framework that was developed for this purpose. A framework approach to analysis was used, incorporating themes that emerged from the data and from the conceptual framework. RESULTS: Mental health policies in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia are weak, in draft form or non-existent. Mental health remained low on the policy agenda due to stigma and a lack of information, as well as low prioritisation by donors, low political priority and grassroots demand. Progress with mental health policy development varied and respondents noted a lack of consultation and insufficient evidence to inform policy development. Furthermore, policies were poorly implemented, due to factors including insufficient dissemination and operationalisation of policies and a lack of resources. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health policy processes in all four countries were inadequate, leading to either weak or non-existent policies, with an impact on mental health services. Recommendations are provided to strengthen mental health policy processes in these and other African countries.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationOmar, M., Green, A. T., Bird, P. K., Mirzoev, T., Flisher, A. J., Kigozi, F., ... (2010). Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. <i>International Journal of Mental Health Systems</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14905en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationOmar, Maye, Andrew T Green, Philippa K Bird, Tolib Mirzoev, Alan J Flisher, Fred Kigozi, Crick Lund, Jason Mwanza, Angela J Ofori-Atta, and "Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia." <i>International Journal of Mental Health Systems</i> (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14905en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOmar, M. A., Green, A. T., Bird, P. K., Mirzoev, T., Flisher, A. J., Kigozi, F., ... & Ofori-Atta, A. L. (2010). Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Int J Ment Health Syst, 4, 24.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Omar, Maye AU - Green, Andrew T AU - Bird, Philippa K AU - Mirzoev, Tolib AU - Flisher, Alan J AU - Kigozi, Fred AU - Lund, Crick AU - Mwanza, Jason AU - Ofori-Atta, Angela J AU - Mental Health and Poverty Research Programme Consortium (MHaPP) AB - BACKGROUND: Mental illnesses are increasingly recognised as a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet many countries lack a mental health policy or have an outdated, inappropriate policy. This paper explores the development of appropriate mental health policies and their effective implementation. It reports comparative findings on the processes for developing and implementing mental health policies in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia as part of the Mental Health and Poverty Project. METHODS: The study countries and respondents were purposively selected to represent different levels of mental health policy and system development to allow comparative analysis of the factors underlying the different forms of mental health policy development and implementation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Data analysis was guided by conceptual framework that was developed for this purpose. A framework approach to analysis was used, incorporating themes that emerged from the data and from the conceptual framework. RESULTS: Mental health policies in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia are weak, in draft form or non-existent. Mental health remained low on the policy agenda due to stigma and a lack of information, as well as low prioritisation by donors, low political priority and grassroots demand. Progress with mental health policy development varied and respondents noted a lack of consultation and insufficient evidence to inform policy development. Furthermore, policies were poorly implemented, due to factors including insufficient dissemination and operationalisation of policies and a lack of resources. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health policy processes in all four countries were inadequate, leading to either weak or non-existent policies, with an impact on mental health services. Recommendations are provided to strengthen mental health policy processes in these and other African countries. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1752-4458-4-24 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - International Journal of Mental Health Systems LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia TI - Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14905 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14905
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-4-24
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationOmar M, Green AT, Bird PK, Mirzoev T, Flisher AJ, Kigozi F, et al. Mental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14905.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Healthen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.holder2010 Omar et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceInternational Journal of Mental Health Systemsen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.ijmhs.comen_ZA
dc.subject.otherDelivery of health careen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHealth care systemsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherMental health policiesen_ZA
dc.titleMental health policy process: a comparative study of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambiaen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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