ArticleInternational journal of mental health systems2022
Using participatory action research to pilot a model of service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in Ethiopian primary healthcare: a case study.
Article in International journal of mental health systems, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Implementation strategies to improve HIV care cascade outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review from 2014 to 2021.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2024Pooled it
- Rationale and Methods of a Surveillance System for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Hematological Malignancies: A Qualitative Participatory Action Research Approach in Middle-Income Countries-The Experience in Iran.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Participatory research in mental health care services in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Article
- Social inclusion in global mental health contexts: how can we do more for what matters most?World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2026Article
- Practical insights for enhancing primary care rehabilitation services in low-resource contexts.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 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
- "They treat us like rabid dogs": Stigma and discrimination as experienced by people living with psychosis and their caregivers in Malawi-A photovoice study.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- "Problems you can live with" versus emergencies: how community members in rural Ethiopia contend with conditions requiring surgery.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Establishing partnerships with people with lived experience of mental illness for stigma reduction in low- and middle-income settings.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2024Article
- Studying the context of psychoses to improve outcomes in Ethiopia (SCOPE): Protocol paper.PloS one · 2024Article
- Model for enhancing the research conducted by the university medical staff: Participatory action research.Heliyon · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLittle is known about actual involvement or how to achieve service user and caregiver in mental health systems strengthening in low-and middle-income countries. This study describes the processes and explores involvement experiences of participants in a pilot study of a new model of service user involvement in mental health system strengthening in a rural district in southern Ethiopia.
methodsWe applied a case study design using participatory action research (PAR). The PAR process comprised of three stages, each with iterative activities of plan, act, observe and reflect. Two stakeholder groups, a Research Advisory Group (RAG) and Research Participant Group (RPG), were established and collaborated in the PAR process. Data collection involved process documentation of meetings and activities: attendances, workshop minutes, discussion outputs, reflective notes, participatory observation of sessions, and in-depth interviews with 12 RPG members. We analyzed the process data descriptively. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Triangulation and synthesis of findings was carried out to develop the case study.
resultsThe stakeholder groups identified their top research priorities, developed an intervention and action plan and made a public presentation of preliminary findings. Key mechanisms used for inclusive participation included capacity building and bringing together diverse stakeholders, anchoring the study in established strong community involvement structures, and making use of participatory strategies and activities during the PAR process. Four themes were developed about experiences of involvement in PAR: (i) expectations and motivation, (ii) experiences of the dynamics of the PAR process, (iii) perceived impacts of involvement in the PAR process, and (iv) implementation challenges and future directions.
conclusionsThis case study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a complex model of service-user involvement in mental health system strengthening in a resource constrained setting. More needs to be done to embed service-user involvement into routines of the primary healthcare system, alongside sustained support and strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration at multiple levels.
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