Article Sidebar

Download
PDF

Main Article Content

Abstract








Background: Treatment gaps continue to be reported within sub-Saharan Africa, and this has been associated with wrong mental health (MH) beliefs, poor knowledge of MH disorders, stigma towards mentally ill persons even among healthcare workers, as well as weak healthcare delivery systems. This study was thus conducted to determine the knowledge and attitude of Primary Health Care (PHC) workers towards mental healthcare services (MHS) and mental illness in Rivers State, Nigeria.


Methodology: This study utilized a descriptive design, and a multi-stage sampling technique. It was conducted among 415 Primary Health Care workers (PHCWs) in Rivers State, Nigeria. It was conducted at selected Model Primary Health Care (MPHC) facilities located in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State, Nigeria. Responses were elicited from willing respondents using a self-administered adapted questionnaire. Assessment of the respondents’ knowledge and attitude towards MHS and mental illness was done using a set of fourteen and sixteen questions respectively. Responses were then collated and analyzed on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, were expressed as frequencies/percentages, mean ± standard deviation, and presented on charts.


Results: This study identified that most of the PHC workers good knowledge 412 (99.3%) of mental health services but manifested more stigmatizing attitude 365 (88.0%) towards the provision of MHS and mental illness. No factor was however identified to be significantly associated with their knowledge and attitude towards MHS.


Conclusion: In this study, most of the PHCWs had good knowledge of mental health services but manifested more stigmatizing attitude towards the provision of MHS and the mentally-ill. It was recommended that health care stakeholders in Rivers State develop and implement policies and training programs targeting the development of mental healthcare capacity among PHCWs in Rivers State.








Keywords

Mental health services knowledge health workers mental illness

Article Details

License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Pearl Iyaye Daibi Abereton, Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Port Harcourt 500001, Rivers State, Nigeria

Environmental Health Department, School of Public Health, University of Port-Harcourt, Choba 500004, Rivers

State, Nigeria

 

How to Cite
Abereton, P. I. D., Dede, S. B., Eli, D. A., Jack, P. C., & Oreh, A. C. (2026). KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN RIVERS STATE. Journal of Public Health and Toxicological Research, 3(2), 245–251. https://doi.org/10.71637/jphtr.vol3no2.58
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

References

  1. Votruba N, Thornicroft G. The importance of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals. BJPsych Int. 2015 Feb 1;12(1):2–4.
  2. Chuku CN, Obiageli O. Manpower Development and Utilization of Health Care Delivery in Portharcourt Metropolis of Rivers State. Enugu State Univ Sci Technol J Soc Sci. 2019;4(1):77–88.
  3. Alao AM, Ibrahim RO, Iloh KK, Ayuk AC, Diala UM, Christopher DB, et al. PLOS ONE Factors associated with common mental disorders among breastfeeding mothers in tertiary hospital nurseries in Nigeria. PLoS One. 2023;18(3):1–16: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281704
  4. Rivers State Ministry of Health. RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT STRATEGIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010 – 2015. 2015. p. 1–63.
  5. Duara HB, Sylva DG, Binabo TC. An exploratory study of mental health service of families and persons with psychological health issues in the Niger Delta region , Nigeria. African J Nurs Midwifery. 2015;2(5):149–55.
  6. Lawal SA, Henderson D, Ogunniyi A. Revisiting the need to strengthen health systems in africa for better mental health care delivery. Niger Heal J. 2022;22(2):225–43.
  7. Muhorakeye O, Biracyaza E. Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Services Utilization at Kabutare District Hospital of Rwanda: Perspectives From Patients. Front Psychol. 2021;12(March):1–13.
  8. Mosaku KS, Wallymahmed AH. Attitudes of Primary Care Health Workers Towards Mental Health Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Osun State, Nigeria. Community Ment Health J [Internet]. 2017;53(2):176–82. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0017-3
  9. World Health Organisation W. Mental Health [Internet]. 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
  10. Soroye MO, Oleribe OO, Taylor-SD. Community Psychiatry Care: An Urgent Need in Nigeria. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2021;1145–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S309517
  11. Jack-Ide IO, Uys LR, Middleton LE. Mental health care policy environment in Rivers State: experiences of mental health nurses providing mental health care services in neuro-psychiatric hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. International J Ment Heal Syst. 2013;7(8):1–9.
  12. Federal Ministry of Health F. National Policy for Mental Health Services Delivery. 2013.
  13. Funk M, Saraceno B, Drew N, Faydi E. Integrating mental health into primary healthcare. Ment Health Fam Med. 2008;5:5–8.
  14. Gureje O, Abdulmalik J, Kola L, Musa E, Yasamy MT, Adebayo K. Integrating mental health into primary care in Nigeria: report of a demonstration project using the mental health gap action programme intervention guide. BMC Health Serv Res. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0911-3
  15. Adewuya AO, Adewumi T, Ola B, Abosede O, Oyeneyin A, Fasawe A, et al. Primary health care workers’ knowledge and attitudes towards depression and its management in the MeHPric-P project, Lagos, Nigeria. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;47:1–6.
  16. Kigozi-Male NG, Heunis JC, Engelbrecht MC. Primary health care nurses’ mental health knowledge and attitudes towards patients and mental health care in a South African metropolitan municipality. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01188-x
  17. Specialist I, Hospital T, Health P, Development C. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN NIGERIA: STRATEGIES AND CONSTRAINTS IN IMPLEMNTATION. 2007;74–9.
  18. Aregbeshola B, Khan S. Primary Health Care in Nigeria: 24 Years after Olikoye Ransome-Kuti’s Leadership. Front Public Health. 2017;5(48):7–8.
  19. Amru A. Primary Health Care, the history and the importance. 2023.
  20. Anyebe EE, Olisah VO, Garba SN, Murtala HH, Danjuma A. Barriers to the provision of community-based mental health services at primary healthcare level in northern Nigeria – A mixed methods study International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. Int J Africa Nurs Sci. 2021;15(November):100376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100376
  21. Anyebe E, Olisah V, Garba S, Murtala H, Aliyu D. Barriers to the provision of community-based mental health services at primary healthcare level in northern Nigeria – A mixed methods study. Int J Africa Nurs Sci. 2021 Nov 1;15:100376.
  22. Wakida EK, Obua C, Rukundo GZ, Maling S, Talib ZM, Okello ES. Barriers and facilitators to the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare: a qualitative study among Ugandan primary care providers using the COM-B framework. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet]. 2018;7(18):1–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3684-7
  23. Wakida EK, Obua C, Rukundo GZ, Maling S, Talib ZM, Okello ES. Barriers and facilitators to the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare: a qualitative study among Ugandan primary care providers using the COM-B framework. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet]. 2018;18(1):890. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3684-7
  24. Ezeruigbo CFS. Health Workers’ Preparedness towards Integrating Mental Healthcare into Primary Health Settings: Evidence from Nigeria. Int J Clin Med. 2022;13:379–90. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcm.2022.138026
  25. Kaur S. A Study of relationship between Occupational Stress and Mental Health among Primary School Teachers. 2015;(Ii):190–9.
  26. Kapungwe A, Cooper S, Mayeya J, Mwanza J, Mwape L, Sikwese A, et al. Attitudes of primary health care providers towards people with mental illness: Evidence from two districts in Zambia. Afr J Psychiatry. 2011 Sep 1;14:290–7.
  27. Vistorte AOR, Ribeiro WS, Jaen D, Jorge MR, Evans-Lacko S, Mari JDJ. Stigmatizing attitudes of primary care professionals towards people with mental disorders: a systematic review Article (Accepted version). Int J Psychiatry Med. 2018;53(4):317–38.
  28. Alao MA, Ibrahim OR, Iloh KK, Ayuk AC, Diala UM, Briggs DC, et al. Factors associated with common mental disorders among breastfeeding mothers in tertiary hospital nurseries in Nigeria. PLoS One [Internet]. 2023 Mar 9;18(3):e0281704. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281704
  29. Ihalainen-Tamlander N, Vahaniemi A, Loyttyniemi E, Suominen T, Valimaki M. Stigmatizing attitudes in nurses towards people with mental illness: a cross-sectional study in primary settings in Finland. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2016;1–11.