"Helping Mentally Ill, a Reward Both in this Life and After": A Qualitative Study Among Community Health Professionals in Somaliland.

Journal: Community mental health journal

Volume: 59

Issue: 6

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, , Falun, Sweden. College of Health Science, Amoud University, Amoud Valley, Borama, Somaliland, Somalia. University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, Scotland. School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, , Falun, Sweden. fos@du.se.

Abstract summary 

This study aimed to describe the experiences of community mental health workers, predominantly female, nurses and doctors providing community-based mental health services in Borama, Somaliland. A qualitative explorative study using focus group discussions was conducted. Data were collected from three focus group discussions with 22 female community health workers, two medical doctors, and two registered nurses and analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach. Three main categories were identified from the analysis: (1) bridging the mental health gap in the community; (2) working in a constrained situation; and (3) being altruistic. Overall, the community mental health workers felt that their role was to bridge the mental health gap in the community. They described their work as a rewarding and motivated them to continue despite challenges and improving community healthcare workers' work conditions and providing resources in mental health services will contribute to strengthening mental health services in Somaliland.

Authors & Co-authors:  Nyassi Sungkutu S Abdi Yakoub Aden YA Minto John J Osman Fatumo F

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Abdi YA, Said NI, Hared YA, Ayeh I, Walhad SA. Mental health care delivery in poor settings through trained female community health workers: A five-year intervention program in Somaliland. Somali Health Action Journal. 2021 doi: 10.36368/shaj.v1i1.246.
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1007/s10597-022-01085-8
SSN : 1573-2789
Study Population
Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Community mental health;Fragile state;Mental health services;Post-conflict setting
Study Design
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Mali
Publication Country
United States