Self-rated Competence and Role of Primary Health Care Workers in Mental Health Care Delivery in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: The mental health treatment gap in Nigeria remains wide, with only 20% of individuals accessing appropriate care. Integrating mental health services into the Primary Health Care (PHC) system has been identified as a strategy to address this problem. The Oyo State PHC Board recently appointed mental health desk officers across its 33 Local Government Areas to provide services and facilitate referrals.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the roles and self-rated competence of PHC workers in mental health care delivery in Oyo State.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 PHC workers including mental health desk officers across all the 33 Local Government Areas in Oyo State. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated competence, roles, training needs, and challenges were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Data were subjected to bivariate and multivariate analysis using SPSS version 26 at p-value ≤0.05.

Result: About 57.5% of the respondents rated their competence as good, with notable competence in diagnosing mental illnesses and developing treatment plans, yet 32.5% lacked confidence in psychosis management. Only 20% identified their roles in sensitisation and awareness creation on mental health-related activities. Challenges included insufficient resources, funding, and stigma associated with mental health conditions. While a significant association was found between years as mental health desk officers and self-rated competence (P=0.000), this was not significant in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The study highlights the necessity for targeted interventions, training initiatives, and collaborative strategies to address gaps in competence and role identification among PHC workers, crucial for effectively addressing escalating mental health needs within communities.