RESUMO
This study examines mental health services in five different regions of the Dominican Republic (DR) from the perspectives of health care providers. The purpose of this research was to (1) examine existing mental health care services; (2) identify barriers to treatment and mental health services delivery; and (3) explore potential strategies to improve mental health services delivery. Thirty-seven health care workers including physicians, nurses, psychologists, governmental administrators, and non-governmental community health workers were part of five focus groups and subsequent follow-up interviews. Transcripts were coded and analysed to obtain the most parsimonious categories of themes. Results indicated that there is insufficient funding allocated to mental health. The unreliable distribution of psychiatric medications precludes care for patients with severe chronic mental illness. Stigmatising attitudes among health care providers influences the quality of care. The prevalence of domestic violence is a significant public health problem contributing to mental illness. In conclusion, our study findings call for a re-examination of priority public health foci, with special attention to mental health and domestic violence in the DR. From a policy perspective, mental health care should be integrated into primary care and coupled with provider and patient education to reduce stigma. A social determinants approach could ameliorate systemic factors contributing to mental illness.
Assuntos
Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde/psicologia , Serviços de Saúde Mental , República Dominicana , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Saúde Pública , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Estigma SocialRESUMO
Introduction Mental health can have different meanings in indigenous communities, which is why understanding mental problems requires studying the context. Knowledge of mental health in these communities sheds light on the population's perception of how they live and experience the stressful events that cause depressive symptomatology. The aim of this article is to analyze the link between the symptoms expressed in an indigenous population and the symptoms evaluated using the Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D) and its link with socio-demographic variables. Method The sample comprises indigenous women from the Mezquital Valley who attended medical consultations and were referred for psychological treatment since they were considered to be suffering from emotional malaise due to their inability to cope with living with a relative who was a heavy drinker. A mixed method that explores meanings was used to analyze the information. This method involves the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data that complement each other in order to understand the cultural context and influences. The quantitative analysis consisted of obtaining the score for depressive symptomatology and its link with socio-demographic variables such as academic achievement, age, occupation and marital status. Presence (experiencing the symptom in the week prior to the interview, regardless of the number of days) and persistence (experiencing the symptom from five to seven days) were analyzed. Results and discussion Sixty-two per cent obtained high scores for depressive symptomatology. The qualitative data indicate that the women expressed feelings that correspond to items in the CES-D. Working and being young constitute a protective factor that provides women with a social life and a degree of independence. The effectiveness of the CES-D as a screening instrument means that it can be applied in primary health care to alert professionals and ensure timely referral. Conclusion The CES-D scale is suitable for measuring depressive symptomatology in Mexico's indigenous population. However, these findings must be treated with caution because of the population's meanings and representations of health and illness.
Introducción En las comunidades indígenas la salud mental puede tener significados diferentes por lo que la comprensión de los problemas mentales requiere del estudio del contexto. Su conocimiento favorecería entender desde la perspectiva de la población cómo viven y experimentan los eventos estresantes que les ocasiona sintomatología depresiva. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la relación entre los síntomas expresados en una población indígena, los síntomas evaluados con la Escala de Depresión del Centro de Estudios Epidemiologicos (CES-D)y su relación con variables sociodemográficas. Método El Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, ha venido trabajando por más de diez años en los problemas relacionados con el consumo de alcohol en la comunidad indígena otomí del Estado de Hidalgo. Este trabajo es uno de los realizados en este campo. En este caso la muestra se integra por mujeres indígenas del Valle del Mezquital que asistieron a la consulta médica, y que fueron canalizadas a la atención psicológica por considerar que tenían malestares emocionales por no saber cómo enfrentar la situación de convivir con un familiar consumidor excesivo de alcohol. Para el análisis de la información se utilizó el método mixto, consistente en el análisis de datos cuantitativos y cualitativos que se complementan entre sí para comprender el contexto y explorar los significados y las influencias culturales. El análisis cuantitativo consistió en obtener el puntaje de la sintomatología depresiva y su relación con variables sociodemográficas de escolaridad, edad, ocupación y estado civil. Se analizó la presencia (experimentar el síntoma durante la semana previa a la aplicación sin importar el número de días) y la persistencia (padecer el síntoma de cinco a siete días). Resultados y discusión El 62% tuvo puntuaciones altas de sintomatología depresiva. Los datos cualitativos indican que las mujeres expresan sentimientos que corresponden a los reactivos de la CES-D. Trabajar y ser joven es un factor protector para la sintomatología, brinda a las mujeres una vida social y una esporádica independencia. La efectividad de la CES-D como instrumento de tamizaje, permite su aplicación en el nivel de atención primaria para alertar al profesional y hacer una canalización adecuada. Conclusión La escala de CES-D es adecuada para medir la sintomatología depresiva en una población indígena de México. Sin embargo, la interpretación deberá realizarse con cautela por los significados y representaciones del proceso salud-enfermedad en esta población específica.