A qualitative exploration of Ugandan mental health care workers’ perspectives and experiences on sexual and reproductive health of people living with mental illness in Uganda
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
People with Mental Illness experience vast sexual and reproductive health challenges due to the
affected mental health. Globally, prevalence of mental illness is on the rise with subsequent increase in the number
of people with sexual and reproductive challenges warranting urgent public health intervention. However, information
on the perceptions and experiences of mental health workers, the key health care providers for this population is
generally lacking yet it’s essential for formulation of appropriate policies and public health interventions.
Aim: To explore Ugandan mental health care worker’s perspectives and experiences on the sexual and reproductive
health of people living with mental illness in Uganda in order to generate recommendations to the ministry of health
on how it can be improved.
Materials and methods: Qualitative study design was employed with utilization of phone call semi-structured
in-depth interviews to collect data from 14 mental health workers from Uganda’s National mental referral hospital,
Butabika. Purposive sampling and convenience recruitment was done and the collected data was analyzed using
Thematic content analysis.
Results: Four themes were generated which included people with Mental illness having normal sexual needs, mental
illness effect on sexuality and relationships, practices for safeguarding sexuality of people with mental illness and
the barriers encountered in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services at a mental hospital.
Conclusion: People with mental illness experience a multitude of sexual and reproductive health challenges that
need public health interventions. However, the integration of sexual and reproductive health services in a mental hospital
are not yet successful making people with mental illness to remain with unaddressed health challenges. Policies
should therefore be developed and implemented to ensure successful integration of sexual and reproductive health
at all mental health service care provision points.
Description
Keywords
Mental health workers, Mental illness, Sexual and reproductive health, Health service integration
Citation
Tumwakire, E., Arnd, H., & Gavamukulya, Y. (2022). A qualitative exploration of Ugandan mental health care workers’ perspectives and experiences on sexual and reproductive health of people living with mental illness in Uganda. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1722. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14128-2