ArticleBMC health services research2024
Exploring the barriers to mental health service utilization in the Bolgatanga Municipality: the perspectives of family caregivers, service providers, and mental health administrators.
Article in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Enhancing Mental Wellness in Kenyan Adolescents and Young People: Protocol for a Platform Development and Usability Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives on Barriers to Mental Health Support for Informal Caregivers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Need-Based Mental Health Aid Allocation to Disadvantaged Patients Toward Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh.Public health challenges · 2026Article
- Bridging Financial Inclusion and Health Equity in LMICs: Evidence from a Half-Century of Bibliometric Data.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Effects of stigma on help-seeking behavior in mental health: A community-based study in Ghana's Sekyere South District in the Ashanti region.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2026Article
- Perceptions of the decriminalisation of suicidal attempts among mental health service users in Ghana: a qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Severity profiles of depression, anxiety, and stress among non-commissioned officers in the Ghana armed forces: a cross-sectional study at Burma camp.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Exploring the perspectives of adolescents in high school in Northern Ghana on barriers to accessing substance use services.Discover mental health · 2025Article
- Factors influencing the level of patients' satisfaction with mental healthcare delivery in Tamale Metropolis: a multicentre cross-sectional study.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Does stigma influence intentions to seek mental health care? A study among adults attending University in Ghana.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- COVID-19 pandemic and access to mental healthcare: A qualitative study of the experiences of mental healthcare providers and caregivers in Ghana.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental health service utilization remains a challenge in developing countries, with numerous barriers affecting access to care. Albeit data suggest poor utilization of mental health services in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Ghana, no studies have explored the barriers to the utilization of mental health services. Therefore, this study explored the perspectives of family caregivers, service providers, and mental health service administrators on the barriers to mental health service utilization in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana.
methodsA qualitative descriptive design was employed for the study. Nineteen participants were purposively sampled from two hospitals including fifteen family caregivers, two service providers, and two mental health administrators. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using NVivo 12 pro software.
resultsFive main themes emerged including individual-level barriers, interpersonal barriers, community-level barriers, organizational-level barriers, and policy-level barriers. At the individual level, lack of insight, poor treatment compliance, and financial challenges were prominent barriers. Interpersonal barriers included family pressure influenced by cultural and spiritual beliefs. At the community level, stigma and mental health illiteracy were identified as significant barriers. At the organizational level, barriers encompassed inadequate staffing, limited space, and staff attitudes. Policy-level barriers included the neglect of mental health in policies and the non-inclusion of mental health services in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
conclusionThis study highlights the complexity of barriers to mental health service utilization and underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to address them. Collaborative efforts involving healthcare providers, policymakers, communities, and families are essential to mitigate these barriers. It is imperative to consider these barriers when developing strategies to improve the utilization of mental health services in Ghana.
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