Availability of mental health services at the primary care level in northern part of Nigeria: Service providers' and users' perspectives

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Community-based mental health services (MHSs) should target 70% of the rural population, the end users of primary health-care (PHC) services. In this study, the views of the service users and providers were explored to determine the level of MHSs available at their PHC care centers in three selected states in northern part of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Concurrent quantitative and qualitative data (using mixed-methods research) were collected from a sample of 249 participants through a survey questionnaire and focus group discussions. The sets of data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and thematic clustering; these were triangulated to determine the availability of the MHSs. Results: PHC service providers and users reported that PHC centers lacked any formal MHSs, and only a few personal efforts by service providers were mentioned. The service users could not attest to even these unofficial services. Conclusion: Primary MHSs remain conspicuously absent at community level in the study areas. Both service providers and users attest to the near-complete scarcity despite their willingness to provide and use the services, respectively, if and when formal arrangements can be made. Recommendations: Stakeholders' attention is once again drawn to a neglected component of the PHC to promote mental health and prevent community mental health problems characteristic of many communities.