Assessment of mental health services provision in Tanzania: a case study of Temeke District, Dar es Salaam
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Date
2012
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University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The study assessed mental health services provided by different organizations to the mental patients at Temeke District in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The objectives of the study were mainly two, namely: To investigate if the relatives and care takers of the mentally ill patients and the users of services were satisfied with mental health services, and to investigate why the relatives and care takers of mental patients and users of services were or were not satisfied with the mental health services. The study employed a case study in which a sample of 88 relatives of mental patients were randomly chosen and interviewed. The primary data were also obtained from six care takers of mental patients. Focus group discussion was used to supplement the data obtained from questionnaires. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data from relatives of mental patients while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework analysis. The study revealed that there was general dissatisfaction with mental health services. However, the outreach clinics were mostly preferred. The study indicated that the problems which were being experienced by mental patients included unconscious urination, fatigue and continuation of the disease (the medicines did not treat the disease, but only gave patients a temporal relief). It was recommended that the Ministry of Health has to consolidate outreach services, for they are effective and can enhance accessibility. It is also recommended that health education on matters related to mental health be fostered so as to minimize possibility of increase in the number of mental health cases.
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Keywords
Mental Health sevvices, Temeke district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Citation
Bulugu, C (2012), Assessment of mental health services provision in Tanzania: a case study of Temeke District, Dar es Salaam, master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam (available at http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)