Utilization of heath posters and referral system for mental health in primary heath centres in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Posters are recognized effective small media materials used in passing health education to clients in the health care settings. Disseminating mental health information through such a medium should be an indispensible component of Primary Healthcare (PHC) services, just as the two-way referral also forms an important part of it. This study explored the extent to which mental health posters are provided at the PHC centres as a means of mental health education to clients, with a view to calling for attention its design and display. The study also examines the referral services for mental health clients at PHC centres. This study is part of larger study. Qualitative research method was adopted for this study. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 28 participants between December 2014 and June 2015 in 47 PHC centres in three selected States in northern Nigeria. Data were collected through In-depth interviews and physical observations of all health education posters displayed at the PHC centres. Results show that PHC centres had various kinds of health information posters but none on mental health. However, only two PHC centres had mental health-related posters providers by NGOs. PHC service provider were equally ignorant of the need for mental health posters while authorities concerned seem not interested in mental health issues. Referral services for mental health were virtually non-existent in all the States covered by the study. The consequences of these are misconceptions, stigmatization, increasing prevalence of avoidance mental health disorders and poor inter-level service delivery. PHC coordinators, other stakeholders and relevant Agencies need to provide these services at the community level for the promotion of mental health and treatment of mental health challenges.

Keywords: mental health posters, mental health education, northern Nigeria, Primary Health Care