Implementing the World Health Report 2001 recommendations for integrating mental health into primary health care: A situation analysis of three African countries: Ghana, South Africa and Uganda
Abstract
Integrating mental health into primary health care is widely promoted for a host of reasons, chief among which is providing a more comprehensive health care service. However, only a few countries have adequate mental health resources to undertake the integration of mental health into primary health care in a uniform manner, with wide variations among countries. This paper examines the extent to which two low-income countries (Ghana and Uganda) and one middle-income country (South Africa) are managing the integration of mental health into primary health care using the recommendations of the WHO World Health Report, 2001. Primary and secondary data sources from a situational analysis of mental health services in the three countries were analysed. The findings indicate that significant challenges remain in integrating mental health care into primary health care. Poor or uneven implementation of policy, inadequate access to essential drugs and lack of mental health specialists are some of the reasons advanced. Aside from better human resource planning for mental health, integration may be advanced by the development of packages of care which adopt a task-shifting approach suited to a country's needs.
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The availability of psychotropic medicines in this study contrasts with most previous studies where supply of psychotropic medicines was one of the major barriers for integration of mental health services in primary care.
“Psychotropic medicines were available most of the time in the health facilities, which contrasts with most of the previous studies34–36 where supply of psychotropic medicines was one of the major barriers for integration of mental health services in primary care.”
From Process evaluation of a district mental healthcare plan in Nepal: a mixed-methods case study (2020) · cites this paper as [34]
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References 28 · Cited by 67
- Authors
- Bhana, A., Petersen, I., Baillie, K. L., Flisher, A. J., & The MHaPP Research Programme Consor
- Affiliations
- Human Sciences Research Council (ZA)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Bhana, Arvin
- Venue
- International Review of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-12
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 599-610
- ISSN
- 0954-0261 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1627
- OpenAlex
- W2124560195
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Keywords
- mental health integration, primary care, mental health policy implementation, mental health services, task shifting, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda
- MeSH terms
- Comprehensive Health Care, Ghana, Health Plan Implementation, Health Planning Guidelines, Health Resources, Humans, Mental Health Services, Pharmaceutical Services, Primary Health Care, South Africa, Uganda, Global Health, Health Care Rationing, Program Evaluation, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated, Needs Assessment
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