ArticleBMC health services research2015
Developing a mental health care plan in a low resource setting: the theory of change approach.
Article in BMC health services research, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 57 citations in OpenAlex.
- Implementation of peer support for people with severe mental health conditions in high-, middle- and low-income-countries: a theory of change approach.BMC health services research · 2024Trial
- Trial
- Using the theory of change (ToC) to co-design a primary mental healthcare system for older people with common mental disorders in Hong Kong.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2026Article
- Article
- How can citizen science enhance mental health research quality: theory of change development.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Impact of co-morbid common mental disorder symptoms in people with epilepsy in Ethiopia on quality of life and functional disability: a cohort study.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Article
- Suicidal ideation and attempts among adults in eastern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Article
- Optimising knowledge mobilisation for mental health research in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of the state of knowledge and directions for future research.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Review
- Analyzing the usage of theories of change for routine immunization programs -- a review of impact evaluations from LMICs.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Review
- A pilot study of implementing an adapted model for integration of interventions for people with alcohol use disorders in Tanzanian primary healthcare facilities.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Care Plan Templates in Adult Community Mental Health Teams in England and Wales: An Evaluation.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2024Article
- A youth advisory group on health and health research in rural Cambodia.Global bioethics = Problemi di bioetica · 2024Article
- Adaptation of a model for integration of interventions for alcohol use disorders in primary health care in Tanzania.BMC primary care · 2023Article
- A qualitative inquiry into the patient-related barriers to linkage and retention in HIV care within the community setting.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2023Article
- Performance of primary health care workers in detection of mental disorders comorbid with epilepsy in rural Ethiopia.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- Article
- Developing a Theory of Change model of service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in primary health care in rural Ethiopia.International journal of mental health systems · 2020Article
- Mental health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa: the African Mental Health Research Initiative.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2020Article
- Designing integrated interventions to improve nutrition and WASH behaviors in Kenya.Pilot and feasibility studies · 2020Article
- Impact of integrated district level mental health care on clinical and social outcomes of people with severe mental illness in rural Ethiopia: an intervention cohort study.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundScaling up mental healthcare through integration into primary care remains the main strategy to address the extensive unmet mental health need in low-income countries. For integrated care to achieve its goal, a clear understanding of the organisational processes that can promote and hinder the integration and delivery of mental health care is essential. Theory of Change (ToC), a method employed in the planning, implementation and evaluation of complex community initiatives, is an innovative approach that has the potential to assist in the development of a comprehensive mental health care plan (MHCP), which can inform the delivery of integrated care. We used the ToC approach to develop a MHCP in a rural district in Ethiopia. The work was part of a cross-country study, the Programme for Improving Mental Health Care (PRIME) which focuses on developing evidence on the integration of mental health in to primary care.
methodsAn iterative ToC development process was undertaken involving multiple workshops with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds that included representatives from the community, faith and traditional healers, community associations, non-governmental organisations, Zonal, Regional and Federal level government offices, higher education institutions, social work and mental health specialists (psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses). The objective of this study is to report the process of implementing the ToC approach in developing mental health care plan.
resultsA total of 46 persons participated in four ToC workshops. Four critical path dimensions were identified: community, health facility, administrative and higher level care organisation. The ToC participants were actively engaged in the process and the ToC encouraged strong commitment among participants. Key opportunities and barriers to implementation and how to overcome these were suggested. During the workshops, a map incorporating the key agreed outcomes and outcome indicators was developed and finalized later.
conclusionsThe ToC approach was found to be an important component in the development of the MHCP and to encourage broad political support for the integration of mental health services into primary care. The method may have broader applicability in planning complex health interventions in low resource settings.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.