Efforts and Challenges to Ensure Continuity of Mental Healthcare Service Delivery in a Low Resource Settings During Covid-19 Pandemic—A Case of a Kenyan Referral Hospital
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15524575 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Edith Kamaru Kwobah (0000-0002-1754-2127, Moi University, corresponding author), Florence Jaguga (0000-0002-8381-6309, Moi University), Robert Kiptoo (Moi University), Elias Ndolo (Moi University), Jane N Kariuki (Moi University) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Pages | 588216-588216 |
| Publication date | 2021-01-14 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.588216 |
| PMID | 33519544 |
| OpenAlex | W3118937293 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 7 |
The rising number of patients with Covid-19 as well as the infection control measures have affected healthcare service delivery, including mental healthcare. Mental healthcare delivery in low and middle income countries where resources were already limited are likely to be affected more during this pandemic. This paper describes the efforts of ensuring mental healthcare delivery is continued in a referral hospital in Kenya, Moi Teaching and Referral hospital, as well as the challenges faced. These efforts are guided by the interim guidelines developed by the Kenyan ministry of health. Some of the adjustments described includes reducing number of patients admitted, shortening the stay in the inpatient setting, using outdoors for therapy to promote physical distancing, utilization of electronic platforms for family therapy sessions, strengthening outpatient services, and supporting primary care workers to deliver mental health care services. Some of the challenges include limited ability to move about, declining ability for patients to pay out of pocket due to the economic challenges brought about by measures to control Covid-19, limited drug supplies in primary care facilities, inability to fully implement telehealth due to connectivity issues and stigma for mental health which results in poor social support for the mentally ill patients. It is clear that current pandemic has jeopardized the continuity of usual mental healthcare in many settings. This has brought to sharp focus the need to decentralize mental health care and promote community based services. Meanwhile, there is need to explore feasible alternatives to ensure continuity of care
Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Health care · Interim · Kenya · Medical emergency · Mental health · Mental illness · Pandemic · Political science · Psychiatry · Referral · Service (business · Service delivery framework · Telehealth · Telemedicine · Telepsychiatry · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Nursing
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| Citations per year | 0.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2021 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |