Journal of Psychiatry

A review of the provision of mental healthcare services for elderly patients in Tshwane district, Gauteng province in South Africa

27^th International Conference on PSYCHIATRY & PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH

June 18-19, 2018 Paris, France

Sasha A Hurst and Astrid C Turner

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: According to the WHO, an elderly individual is defined as anyone who is 60 years of age or older. The global elderly population is projected to almost double its size by 2050. Compared to other African countries, South Africa has relatively well-resourced mental health services. However, most patients with a mental illness �?? including the elderly - do not get the required healthcare. Healthcare facilities in Tshwane district, Gauteng province that provide a mental healthcare service for elderly patients are scarce and insufficient information exists on their quality. The aim of this study was to describe the provision of mental healthcare services for elderly patients in Tshwane district. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An observational cross-sectional study design was used. The study setting included all public-sector hospitals, clinics, community health centers (CHC) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) that provide these services. A validated checklist of 39 items assessed their quality, generating a score. Key informants were interviewed using semistructured questions. Interviews were audiotaped, and all results captured into Microsoft Excel. Thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: Sixty-four facilities were invited to participate. Of these facilities, 27 (42.2%) were assessed. CHCs had the highest mean score for service provision due to recent renovations while NGOs had the lowest scores. The main shortcomings were: inadequate infrastructure, poor lighting and lack of adequate wheelchair access. There was also a shortage of health professionals for this population. Key informants verified these difficulties with amongst others, the lack of medications on the essential drug list and inadequate implementation of the Mental Healthcare and Older Person�??s Acts. Conclusion & Significance: There is a shortage of specialized, quality services for this vulnerable growing population. To avoid future tragedies, where patients with mental health illnesses have died (�??Life Esidimeni�?�), increased surveillance of all facilities tasked with providing such services is mandatory

Biography :

Sasha A Hurst is pursuing her Medicine at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She has had a passion for medical research from a young age and is particularly interested in research influencing policy and improving healthcare outcomes. She started her research journey in 2016 by assessing the provision of mental healthcare services in Tshwane district, Gauteng province. That year, she made suggestions to the Office of Health Standards Compliance, contributing to the development of their hospital assessment tool. In addition, she is currently one of the facilitators at the Tuks Undergraduate Research Forum at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria.

E-mail: hurstsasha@gmail.com