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Ganapathi L, Srikrishnan AK, McFall AM, Gunaratne MP, Kumar MS, Lucas GM, Mehta SH, Solomon SS. Expanding single-venue services to better engage young people who inject drugs: insights from India. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:170. [PMID: 39272091 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-01084-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the last decade, India has had an alarming rise in injection of opioids across several cities. Although scale-up of public sector services for people who inject drugs (PWID) in India has occurred over decades, accessibility has been diminished by fragmented services across physical locations. To circumvent this barrier, and in alignment with the World Health Organization's guidelines to provide comprehensive care to key populations, Integrated Care Centers (ICCs) were established across 8 Indian cities as a public-private service delivery model for providing free single-venue services to PWID. ICCs have been very successful in expanding service availability and convenience for PWID generally. However, few studies from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have evaluated how well young PWID (defined as those ≤ 29 years of age) engage with single-venue service models like ICCs or specific services provided in such models. Young PWID are an important subpopulation in India, as they bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections because of greater risk and evidence of lower receipt of HIV testing and harm reduction services compared to older PWID. In this comment, we offer insights specific to young PWID drawn from multiple quantitative and qualitative studies examining the reach and effectiveness of ICCs, which may provide generalizable insights into limitations of services for young PWID more broadly in India and globally. FINDINGS Our studies suggest that while ICCs have expanded service availability, particularly in cities with emerging injection drug use epidemics, population-level reach to foster initial engagement among young PWID can be optimized. Additionally, young PWID who do engage with ICCs experience gaps in substance use treatment receipt and retention, and experience barriers to receipt of ICC services that are distinct from those experienced by older PWID. Notably, HIV incidence among ICC clients is concentrated in young PWID. Finally, ICCs were not intended to reach adolescent PWID, and new services are needed for this subpopulation. CONCLUSIONS In addition to co-locating services, iterative optimization of models such as ICCs should incorporate youth-specific differentiated interventions and be accompanied by policy changes that are critical to improving the reach and effectiveness of harm reduction and HIV services among young PWID in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Ganapathi
- Division of Pediatric Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Aylur K Srikrishnan
- Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, No. 34, East Street, Kilpauk Garden Colony, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600010, India
| | - Allison M McFall
- Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mihili P Gunaratne
- Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Muniratnam Suresh Kumar
- Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, No. 34, East Street, Kilpauk Garden Colony, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600010, India
- Psymed Hospital, 49 Harrington Road, Chetpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600031, India
| | - Gregory M Lucas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sunil S Solomon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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McGorry PD, Mei C, Dalal N, Alvarez-Jimenez M, Blakemore SJ, Browne V, Dooley B, Hickie IB, Jones PB, McDaid D, Mihalopoulos C, Wood SJ, El Azzouzi FA, Fazio J, Gow E, Hanjabam S, Hayes A, Morris A, Pang E, Paramasivam K, Quagliato Nogueira I, Tan J, Adelsheim S, Broome MR, Cannon M, Chanen AM, Chen EYH, Danese A, Davis M, Ford T, Gonsalves PP, Hamilton MP, Henderson J, John A, Kay-Lambkin F, Le LKD, Kieling C, Mac Dhonnagáin N, Malla A, Nieman DH, Rickwood D, Robinson J, Shah JL, Singh S, Soosay I, Tee K, Twenge J, Valmaggia L, van Amelsvoort T, Verma S, Wilson J, Yung A, Iyer SN, Killackey E. The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health. Lancet Psychiatry 2024; 11:731-774. [PMID: 39147461 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(24)00163-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D McGorry
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Cristina Mei
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Vivienne Browne
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Barbara Dooley
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter B Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David McDaid
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Cathrine Mihalopoulos
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Wood
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - Ella Gow
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Elina Pang
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | | | | | | | - Steven Adelsheim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthew R Broome
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew M Chanen
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eric Y H Chen
- Institute of Mental Health, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; LKS School of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Andrea Danese
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; National and Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Clinic for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maryann Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pattie P Gonsalves
- Youth Mental Health Group, Sangath, New Delhi, India; School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Matthew P Hamilton
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo Henderson
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ann John
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Long K-D Le
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christian Kieling
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Ashok Malla
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; ACCESS Open Minds and Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Dorien H Nieman
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Debra Rickwood
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia; headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jai L Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; ACCESS Open Minds and Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Swaran Singh
- Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Ian Soosay
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen Tee
- Foundry, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean Twenge
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Lucia Valmaggia
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Therese van Amelsvoort
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jon Wilson
- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - Alison Yung
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Srividya N Iyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; ACCESS Open Minds and Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Eóin Killackey
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Sharma A, Mita C, Kumar S, Mayer K, O’Cleirigh C, Solomon SS, Bagley S, Batchelder A, Sullivan MC, Hassan A, Ganapathi L. Family-centred interventions for people with substance use disorders in low-income and middle-income country settings: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e087560. [PMID: 39209780 PMCID: PMC11367307 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Substance use disorder (SUD) and problematic substance use are global public health concerns with significant multifaceted implications for physical health and psychosocial well-being. The impact of SUD extends beyond the individual to their family while imposing financial and social burdens on the community. Though family-centred interventions have shown promise in addressing SUD, their implementation and impact in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain underexplored. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Per Joanna Briggs Institute's scoping review protocol, a systematic search strategy was employed across OVID Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science-Core Collection, Global Health and CINAHL from 22 February 2024 to 26 February 2024, to identify relevant studies focused on family-centred interventions for SUD in LMIC, devoid of publication time and language constraints. Two independent reviewers will screen the titles, abstracts and full texts, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or third-party reviews. The extracted data charted in a structured form will be visualised by diagrams or tables, focusing on the feasibility and impact of family-centred interventions for SUD in LMIC. For qualitative studies, the findings will be synthesised and presented in thematic clusters, and for studies that report quantitative outcomes, specific health, including SUD and psychosocial, outcomes will be synthesised, aligning with the Population, Concept and Context framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION These data on substance use, psychosocial outcomes and perspectives of individuals with SUD and their families will be presented in narrative format, highlighting patterns and identifying research gaps. This review aims to synthesise the existing evidence on family-centred interventions for improving substance use and/or psychosocial outcomes in individuals with SUD in LMIC and seeks to inform future policy and practice. Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review, and modifications to the review protocol will be disclosed. Findings will be disseminated through conference proceedings and peer-reviewed publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Sharma
- Division of Pediatric Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carol Mita
- Countway Library, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Satish Kumar
- Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India
| | - Kenneth Mayer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Conall O’Cleirigh
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sunil S Solomon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Bagley
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abigail Batchelder
- Departments of Psychiatry and General Internal Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew C Sullivan
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Areej Hassan
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lakshmi Ganapathi
- Division of Pediatric Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Smythe T, Eaton J, Abiebie A, Arriaga AH, Miner E. The role of caregivers in mental health and child development policy and practice. Lancet 2024:S0140-6736(24)01095-X. [PMID: 38851205 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)01095-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Smythe
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Julian Eaton
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Emily Miner
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, USA
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Zemp C, Vallières F, Jama MA, Ali AH, Young K, Jagoe C. The unmet need for mental health support among persons with disabilities in Somalia: Principal correlates and barriers to access. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e73. [PMID: 39257679 PMCID: PMC11383976 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Disability and mental ill-health may be especially prevalent in Somalia, largely due to a protracted armed conflict and its consequent humanitarian crises. Little, if any, research to date, however, has simultaneously explored disability- and mental health-related factors in the Somali context. Using both descriptive and regression analytical techniques, we aimed to determine how increasing levels of functional impairment reported across different disability domains (i.e., visual, hearing and cognition), number of concomitant disabilities, and other empirically supported variables (such as employment and sex) are associated with the likelihood of self-identifying the need for mental health support among a sample (N = 1,355) of Somalis with disabilities, as well as identify the common barriers to such support. Despite most participants self-identifying a need for mental health support, only 15% were able to access it, with the most common barriers being the cost of services and the unavailability of local services. Being female, married, and having increasing levels of functional difficulty in the cognitive, mobility and self-care domains of disability were each significantly associated with an increased likelihood of the self-identified need for mental health support. This study's findings highlight potential points of prioritisation for mental health policy and programming in Somalia. A Somali version of this abstract can be found in the Supplementary Material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Zemp
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Frédérique Vallières
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | | | - Kirsten Young
- United Nations Human Rights and Protection Group, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | - Caroline Jagoe
- Department of Clinical Speech & Language Studies, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Joseph AP, Babu A, Prakash LTO. The forgotten half: addressing the psychological challenges of wives of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in low- and middle-income countries. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1377394. [PMID: 38571999 PMCID: PMC10988612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1377394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Akhil P. Joseph
- Department of Sociology & Social Work, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- School of Social Work, Marian College Kuttikkanam Autonomous, Kuttikkanam, Kerala, India
| | - Anithamol Babu
- School of Social Work, Marian College Kuttikkanam Autonomous, Kuttikkanam, Kerala, India
- School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Guwahati Off-Campus Jalukbari, Assam, India
| | - LT Om Prakash
- Department of Sociology & Social Work, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Chakrabarti S. Digital psychiatry in low-and-middle-income countries: New developments and the way forward. World J Psychiatry 2024; 14:350-361. [PMID: 38617977 PMCID: PMC11008387 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i3.350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear the greater share of the global mental health burden but are ill-equipped to deal with it because of severe resource constraints leading to a large treatment gap. The remote provision of mental health services by digital means can effectively augment conventional services in LMICs to reduce the treatment gap. Digital psychiatry in LMICs has always lagged behind high-income countries, but there have been encouraging developments in the last decade. There is increasing research on the efficacy of digital psychiatric interventions. However, the evidence is not adequate to conclude that digital psychiatric interventions are invariably effective in LMICs. A striking development has been the rise in mobile and smartphone ownership in LMICs, which has driven the increasing use of mobile technologies to deliver mental health services. An innovative use of mobile technologies has been to optimize task-shifting, which involves delivering mental healthcare services in community settings using non-specialist health professionals. Emerging evidence from LMICs shows that it is possible to use digital tools to train non-specialist workers effectively and ensure that the psychosocial interventions they deliver are efficacious. Despite these promising developments, many barriers such as service costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of trained professionals, and significant disparities in access to digital services impede the progress of digital psychiatry in LMICs. To overcome these barriers, digital psychiatric services in LMICs should address contextual factors influencing the delivery of digital services, ensure collaboration between different stakeholders, and focus on reducing the digital divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subho Chakrabarti
- Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, UT, India
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Buitrago DCC, Rattner M, James LE, García JFB. Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing a Community-Based Psychosocial Support Intervention Conducted In-Person and Remotely: A Qualitative Study in Quibdó, Colombia. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2024; 12:e2300032. [PMID: 38253391 PMCID: PMC10906549 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-23-00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Community-based psychosocial support group (CB-PSS) interventions using task-shifting approaches are well suited to provide culturally appropriate services in low- and middle-income countries. However, contextual barriers and facilitators must be considered to tailor interventions effectively, particularly considering the challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore the barriers, facilitators, and psychosocial changes associated with implementing a CB-PSS group intervention delivered by local lay providers to conflict-affected adults in Quibdó, Colombia, using both in-person and remote modalities. Data were analyzed from 25 individual interviews with participants and a focus group discussion involving staff members, including 7 community psychosocial agent facilitators and 2 mental health professional supervisors. The analysis used a thematic approach grounded in a descriptive phenomenology to explore the lived experiences of participants and staff members during implementation. Participant attendance in the in-person modality was compromised by factors such as competing work and family responsibilities and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants in the remote modality faced challenges concerning unstable Internet connectivity, recurrent power outages caused by heavy rain, distractions, interruptions, and threats to confidentiality by family and coworkers. Despite these challenges, data revealed key contextual facilitators, including the community-based knowledge of facilitators and integration of traditional practices, such as the comadreo (informal talks and gatherings). Respondents shared that the CB-PSS groups promoted stronger community relationships and created opportunities for participants to exchange peer support, practice leadership skills, develop problem-solving skills based on peers' experiences, and enhance emotional regulation skills. Differences and similarities across in-person and remote modalities are discussed, as are key considerations for practitioners and policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Carolina Chaparro Buitrago
- Department of Global Health, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Michel Rattner
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Palo Alto University, Department of Psychology, Palo Alto, California, USA
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Mee N, Abera M, Kerac M. Acceptability and Feasibility of Maternal Mental Health Assessment When Managing Small, Nutritionally At-Risk Infants Aged < 6 Months: A Key Informant Interview Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:209. [PMID: 38397321 PMCID: PMC10887604 DOI: 10.3390/children11020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions and infant malnutrition are both major global public health concerns. Despite a well-established link between the two, many nutrition programmes do not routinely consider MMH. New World Health Organization (WHO) malnutrition guidelines do, however, emphasise MMH. To inform guideline rollout, we aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of MMH assessments in nutrition programmes in low-resource settings. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with international key informants who work on nutrition programmes or MMH research. Interview transcripts were coded using subthemes derived from the key points discussed. The benefits and risks were highlighted. These included ethical dilemmas of asking about MMH if local treatment services are suboptimal. Commonly reported challenges included governance, staff training and finance. Community and programme staff perceptions of MMH were primarily negative across the different settings. Many points were raised for improvements and innovations in practice, but fundamental developments were related to governance, care pathways, advocacy, training, funding and using existing community networks. Future implementation research is needed to understand whether assessment is safe/beneficial (as it is in other settings) to promote MMH screening. Current service providers in low-resource settings can undertake several steps, as recommended in this paper, to improve the care offered to mothers and infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Mee
- Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Mubarek Abera
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia;
| | - Marko Kerac
- Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
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