What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review
Abstract Background Few studies have examined the mental health needs of African children and teenagers. Based on this gap, this scoping review aims to identify barriers to mental health services, treatments and services sought, and where mental health services are received. Methods To pursue the st...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09294-x |
| _version_ | 1797850191394504704 |
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| author | Sabine Saade Annick Parent Lamarche Tatiana Khalaf Sara Makke Alexander Legg |
| author_facet | Sabine Saade Annick Parent Lamarche Tatiana Khalaf Sara Makke Alexander Legg |
| author_sort | Sabine Saade |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Few studies have examined the mental health needs of African children and teenagers. Based on this gap, this scoping review aims to identify barriers to mental health services, treatments and services sought, and where mental health services are received. Methods To pursue the stated objectives, we searched the following databases a) PsycINFO, b) CINAHL, c) Medline, and d) Web of Science. The search yielded 15,956 records in total. Results Studies included in this review were conducted in six African countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia. The majority of the studies were conducted in South Africa (33.32%), followed by Ethiopia (25%), and Egypt (16.67%). In terms of treatments and services sought, both professional and traditional/alternative treatments were reported. The most frequently noted services were psychiatric treatments (25%), screening and diagnostic assessment (16.67%), as well as psychiatric and psychological consultations (16.67%). The most frequently reported treatment centers were psychiatric hospitals. As for treatment barriers, the three most frequently encountered barriers were: a preference for traditional/alternative and complementary treatments (33.33%), followed by stigma (25%), and a lack of knowledge/unfamiliarity with the mental health condition (25%). Conclusion The results of this study are alarming due to the significant barriers to accessing mental health services coupled with the use of potentially harmful interventions to treat those mental health conditions. We hope this scoping review will help shed light on this important issue and help tomorrow’s generation reach its full potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:56:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d27716d2f4b84a6d8482ae411cb524e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:56:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d27716d2f4b84a6d8482ae411cb524e12023-04-09T11:11:32ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-04-0123111610.1186/s12913-023-09294-xWhat barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping reviewSabine Saade0Annick Parent Lamarche1Tatiana Khalaf2Sara Makke3Alexander Legg4Department of Psychology, American University of BeirutDépartement de gestion des ressources humaines, Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresDepartment of Psychology, American University of BeirutDepartment of Psychology, American University of BeirutDepartment of Psychology, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeAbstract Background Few studies have examined the mental health needs of African children and teenagers. Based on this gap, this scoping review aims to identify barriers to mental health services, treatments and services sought, and where mental health services are received. Methods To pursue the stated objectives, we searched the following databases a) PsycINFO, b) CINAHL, c) Medline, and d) Web of Science. The search yielded 15,956 records in total. Results Studies included in this review were conducted in six African countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia. The majority of the studies were conducted in South Africa (33.32%), followed by Ethiopia (25%), and Egypt (16.67%). In terms of treatments and services sought, both professional and traditional/alternative treatments were reported. The most frequently noted services were psychiatric treatments (25%), screening and diagnostic assessment (16.67%), as well as psychiatric and psychological consultations (16.67%). The most frequently reported treatment centers were psychiatric hospitals. As for treatment barriers, the three most frequently encountered barriers were: a preference for traditional/alternative and complementary treatments (33.33%), followed by stigma (25%), and a lack of knowledge/unfamiliarity with the mental health condition (25%). Conclusion The results of this study are alarming due to the significant barriers to accessing mental health services coupled with the use of potentially harmful interventions to treat those mental health conditions. We hope this scoping review will help shed light on this important issue and help tomorrow’s generation reach its full potential.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09294-xAfricaMental healthBarriersChildrenAdolescentsStigma |
| spellingShingle | Sabine Saade Annick Parent Lamarche Tatiana Khalaf Sara Makke Alexander Legg What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review BMC Health Services Research Africa Mental health Barriers Children Adolescents Stigma |
| title | What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review |
| title_full | What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review |
| title_fullStr | What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review |
| title_short | What barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Africa? A scoping review |
| title_sort | what barriers could impede access to mental health services for children and adolescents in africa a scoping review |
| topic | Africa Mental health Barriers Children Adolescents Stigma |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09294-x |
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