Exploring the motivations of mental health service utilization among family caregivers in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana

Abstract Family caregivers' role in sending their mentally ill relatives to the mental health service (MHS) has been vital in the era of community mental healthcare. They are the determinants of where mentally ill relatives are sent for care. There is currently no evidence about the motivators of MHS use among these major stakeholders in the Bolgatanga municipality. This study, therefore, sought to explore the perceived utilization and the motivating factors for the utilization of MHS in the Bolgatanga municipality. A descriptive qualitative study design was employed to conduct the study in two health facilities (Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital and the Upper East Regional Hospital). A semi‐structured interview guide was used to conduct in‐depth interviews among 19 purposively sampled participants consisting of 15 family caregivers of mentally ill relatives, two MHS providers, and two MHS administrators. Audio‐recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Two main themes emerged including perceived utilization of MHS by family caregivers and motivating factors for the utilization of MHS. The study showed that most participants sought MHS for their mentally ill relatives. The study further identified multilevel factors such as individual factors, interpersonal factors, organizational factors, and policy‐level factors that motivated the utilization of MHS in the Bolgatanga municipality. There is a need to embark on activities that will further strengthen the factors that have been identified as motivators to encourage the continuous utilization of MHS in the municipality

A qualitative Study on women’s experiences of Intrapartum Care at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Background: Labor and delivery process is an exciting, anxiety-provoking, but rewarding time for a woman and her family after successful delivery of a newborn. The intrapartum period is the time where mothers expect more care from nurses/midwives. Taking care of a mother in delivery with no side effects is the task of a professional midwife who is trained to care of mothers and babies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore mother’s experiences regarding intrapartum quality of care. Methods: Focused ethnographic study was employed. Data were collected from May to June 2016 using semi structured interview guide. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 20 participants. Eight individual interviews were conducted in postnatal ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana after 48 hours of delivery, followed by three focus group discussions two weeks after delivery when mothers visited postnatal clinic. Interviews lasted for about 30-45 minutes during each session. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The average age of women were 29years with ages ranging from 19years to 43years. Participants’ experiences of nursing/midwifery care during birth were influenced by reception and respect, provision of information, technical skill, providers’ behavior, pain management and availability of nurses/midwives. Conclusion: The study findings have revealed that women’s experience of care is affected by a wide range of determinants. Therefore, maternal health programmes and policies in Ghana must take into account women’s expectations on the care they need and their feedback on services they receive. Nursing education should re-enforce communication/relational skills. Keywords: Nursing Care, Labor, Delivery, Qualitative Stud