ArticleBMC health services research2023
Mental healthcare services in Kenyan counties: a descriptive survey of four counties in Western Kenya.
Article in BMC health services research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pathways to mental health services across local health systems in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from a systematic review.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Cost-Effectiveness and Impact of Depression Treatment Implementation on HIV Outcomes in Western Kenya: A Mathematical Modelling Study.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2026Article
- How has mental health impacted the HIV epidemic and how has the HIV epidemic impacted mental health in Western Kenya? A mathematical modelling study.BMJ global health · 2026Article
- Professional Quality of Life Among Non-Specialist Healthcare Workers Trained in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya: A Mixed-Methods Study.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Article
- Efficacy and acceptability of a blended intervention for emotion regulation (MAISHA) among young people in Kenya: study protocol for a cluster RCT.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Transforming mental health care in Kenya: The critical role of routine outcomes monitoring in specialized services.SSM. Mental health · 2025Article
- A comprehensive review of mental health services across selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa: assessing progress, challenges, and future direction.Discover mental health · 2025Review
- Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of mental and substance use problems among adults in Kenya: A community-based cross-sectional study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Effectiveness of barber-facilitated "Doing What Matters in Times of Stress" intervention among urban literate youths in Western Kenya: A cluster randomised trial.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- "A problem shared is a problem solved:" integrating human-centered design and implementation science to optimize lay counselor supervision in Western Kenya.SSM. Mental health · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe government of Kenya has made progressive efforts towards improving mental health services in the country. However there is little documentation of mental health services in the counties that would support actualization of the legislative frameworks in the context of a devolved healthcare system. This study sought to document existing mental health services within 4 counties in Western Kenya.
methodsWe conducted a cross sectional descriptive survey of four counties using the World Health Organization, Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS). Data was collected in 2021, with 2020 being the year of reference. We collected data from the facilities offering mental healthcare within the counties as well as from County health policy makers and leaders.
resultsMental healthcare was provided at higher level facilities within the counties, with minimal structures at primary care facilities. No county had a stand-alone policy on mental health services or dedicated budget for mental healthcare. The national referral hospital, within Uasin-Gishu county, had a clear mental health budget for mental health. The national facility in the region had a dedicated inpatient unit while the other three counties admitted patients in general medical wards but had mental health outpatient clinics. The national hospital had a variety of medication for mental health care while the rest of the counties had very few options with antipsychotics being the most available. All the four counties reported submitting data on mental health to Kenya health information system (KHIS). There were no clearly defined mental healthcare structures in the primary care level except for funded projects under the National referral hospital and the referral mechanism was not well defined. There was no established mental health research in the counties except that which was affiliated to the national referral hospital.
conclusionIn the four counties in Western Kenya, the mental health systems are limited and not well structured, are faced with limited human and financial resources and there is lack of county specific legistrative frameworks to support mental healthcare. We recommend that counties invest in structures to support provision of quality mental healthcare to the people they serve.
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