The Realities of Caring for a Person with a Mental Disorder in Rural and Remote Capricorn District of South Africa
A Qualitative Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8908894 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thembi Nkomo (0009-0006-4337-7889, University of the Free State, corresponding author), Mokoko Percy Kekana (0000-0003-3484-0967, University of Limpopo) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 531-543 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Community Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0010-3853 • E-ISSN: 1573-2789 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10597-024-01360-w |
| PMID | 39313738 |
| OpenAlex | W4402744218 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
In rural African communities, family caregivers shoulder the responsibility of caring for loved ones with mental disorders, often without professional support. This qualitative explorative study, conducted in Limpopo Province, South Africa, aimed to explore the realities of caring for a family member with a mental disorder in rural and remote Capricorn District, in order to uncover insights that can inform support systems, the academic community, interventions, and policies. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to ensure the reproducibility and validity of the results by focusing on participants who are actively involved in caregiving, living in the rural and remote of Capricorn District, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of their experiences, and this resulted in 15 participants (13 females, 2 males). Data saturation determined the sample size, with data collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Tesch's open-coding method. The findings revealed that cultural and spiritual beliefs strengthen caregivers, who exhibit resilience and resourcefulness, yet face financial strain, career setbacks, social isolation, and health declines. The study underscores the critical role of healthcare professionals in recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by family caregivers, while also advocating for the academic community to prioritize the development and dissemination of educational programs focused on safe and ethical coping strategies for caregivers and for policymakers to develop comprehensive mental health services that are accessible and culturally sensitive to rural and remote communities. This is essential because the well-being of caregivers directly influences the rehabilitation and community integration outcomes for individuals with mental disorders
Mental health · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Family and Disability Support Research · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology
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Doing Interviews
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| Highly cited | No |
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