Utilization of Health Posters and Referral System for Mental Health in Primary Health Centres in Northern Nigeria
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Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin.
Abstract
Posters are recognized effective small media materials used in passing health education to clients in the health care settings. Disseminating mental health information through such a medium should be an indispensible component of Primary Healthcare (PHC) services, just as the two-way referral also forms an important part of it.This study explored the extent to which mental health posters are provided at the PHC centres as a means of mental health education to clients, with a view to calling for attention its design and display. The study also examines the referral services for mental health clients at PHC centres. This study is part of a larger study. Qualitative research method was adopted for this study. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 28 participants between December2014 and June 2015 in 47 PHC centres in three selected States in northern Nigeria. Data were collected through In-depth interviews and physical observations of all health education posters displayed at the PHC centres. Results show that PHC centres had various kinds of health information posters but none on mental health. However, only two PHC centres had mental health-related posters provided by NGOs. PHC service providers were equally ignorant of the need for mental health posters while authorities concerned seemed not interested in mental health issues. Referral services for mental health were virtually non-existent in all the States covered by the study. The consequences of these are misconceptions, stigmatization, increasing prevalence of avoidance of mental health disorders and poor inter-level service delivery. PHC coordinators, stakeholders and relevant Agencies need to provide these services at the community level for the promotion of mental health and treatment of mental health challenges.
Description
A community mental health paper focused on the desired provision for mental health educational materials at the primary health care level. There is a call for urgent formulation, utilization and evaluation of mental health posters for community mental health education.
Keywords
Mental health posters, Mental health education, Northern Nigeria, Primary Health Care.
Citation
Anyebe, E.E., Garba, S.N., Afolayan, J.A., Umar, J.N.& Lawal, H. (2019): Utilization of Health Posters and Referral System for Mental Health in Primary Health Centres in Northern Nigeria; The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences; 6(2): 44-49. Published by College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin. (https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjhc/article/view/187799)