Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya: Do We Need a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy?

Mathai, Muthoni; Mbwayo, Anne; Mutavi, Teresia; Bukusi, David

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83707-5_7

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Kenya is a young country with more than 40% of all Kenyans being children under 18 years [43], we are still in the process of understanding child and adolescent mental health and well-being. Despite evidence of the burden, it is still undertreated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinician perspectives on offering services to adolescents with mental health problems in a National Referral Hospital in Kenya

Wambua

Kumar²,

Falkenström

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: The aim of this paper was to explore clinicians’ perspectives on the provision of psychotherapy to adolescents referred for care in a public health facility, with a focus on identifying both facilitators and barriers to the treatment process. Method: The study was conducted at the Youth Clinic of the Mental Health Department at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi. Ten clinicians participated in the interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for coding. A reflexive thematic approach was utilized for analysis. Findings: Our analysis identified five overarching but interrelated themes. The clinicians describe different facilitators and barriers to the therapeutic process within each theme. They included (i) awareness of mental health issues was limited among adolescents and caregivers with the internet offering new source of information for adolescents, (ii) community awareness of available help was also inadequate with adolescents and caregivers often preferring a quick solution as opposed to time-consuming therapy, (iii) dose of treatment and perception of adequacy identified as conflict areas for all stakeholders involved, with 3 sessions often being prescribed by the schools, with clinicians describing them as inadequate, (iv) premature termination of the process which was influenced by user perceptions and attitudes toward treatment and finally (v) the clinicians identified that a good therapeutic relationship was important for good therapeutic outcomes. Discussion: Our findings give us insight into the therapeutic process, giving an understanding of some of the barriers and facilitators as experienced by clinicians working with adolescents in Kenya. Issues such as low mental health literacy have greater impact on not only help-seeking behaviors in the group, but appropriate utilization of services for their benefit. This work yields important insights that can be used to improve adolescent mental health services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinician perspectives on offering services to adolescents with mental health problems in a National Referral Hospital in Kenya

Wambua

Kumar²,

Falkenström

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This risks potential overestimation or underestimation of the burden, which hinders the ability to work toward promoting and scaling up programs and services to support adolescent mental health [5]. Lack of valid data and the absence of related policy dedicated to child and adolescent mental health are limiting factors in implementing mental health strategies for adolescents in Kenya and many other LMICs [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the English and Swahili Adaptation of the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 for Use Among Adolescents in Kenya

Tele

Carvajal

Nyongesa

et al. 2023

Journal of Adolescent Health

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Outcome evaluation of psychological interventions offered to adolescents seeking mental health services at the national referral and teaching hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Wambua

Kumar²,

Falkenström³

et al. 2022

SSM - Mental Health

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Kenya: Do We Need a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy?

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Clinician perspectives on offering services to adolescents with mental health problems in a National Referral Hospital in Kenya

Clinician perspectives on offering services to adolescents with mental health problems in a National Referral Hospital in Kenya

Validation of the English and Swahili Adaptation of the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 for Use Among Adolescents in Kenya

Outcome evaluation of psychological interventions offered to adolescents seeking mental health services at the national referral and teaching hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

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