Reaching the stigmatised: A 3-year retrospective analysis of the static and mobile mental health clinics of Nkhoma Mission Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi
Loading...
Date
2021-01-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of research study
This is a retrospective analysis of data collected over a 3 year period.
The problem to be studied
This research will describe the demographic characteristics of patients attending both the static
and mobile clinics of Nkhoma Mission Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi.
There will then be an analysis of the distances of the mobile clinics from the static clinic at
Nkhoma Mission Hospital, Lilongwe. This will be demonstrated using mapping technology to
create a visual representation of the distances. Analysis will then be carried out on the differences
in the demographic characteristics of those attending both the static and mobile clinics.
Broad Objective:
To describe the individuals accessing Nkhoma Mission Hospital’s Mental Health Services and
understand the implications of the geographical locations of the static clinic in Nkhoma Mission
Hospital and the 12 associated mobile clinics from February, 2017 and September 2020.
Specific Objectives:
- To describe and understand the demographics of individuals attending the static and mobile
mental health clinics of Nkhoma Mission Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi.
- To establish the distance between Nkhoma Mission Hospital and the 12 outreach clinics and
calculate the time taken to travel to each of these clinics.
- To use OSM mapping technology to demonstrate the geographical location of the mobile
clinics in relation to the static clinic at Nkhoma Mission Hospital.
- To determine whether the demographics affect the utilisation of either a mobile clinic or
static clinic.
- To analyse if, and how, the follow up of patients differs based on the geographical locations
of the static and mobile clinics.
Methodology
This research is a quantitative study which involves the analysis of data which has already been
collected. The data was collected as part of routine clinical data collection. The data will be
anonymised for the purposes of this study analysis.
Expected findings
There is likely to be a variation in demographic characteristics of patients attending the different
clinics. The static clinic will probably see a wider range of demographics, as there were 415
patients attending the one static clinic at Nkhoma, compared with a combined total of 495patients spread across the 12 mobile clinics.
The use of mapping will provide a helpful visual representation which may be used in future by
programme organisers when assessing delivery of services to populations living further from the
main clinic at Nkhoma Hospital.
It is expected that there will be significant differences in the follow up of patients based on
whether they attended the static clinic at Nkhoma Hospital or mobile clinics in the surrounding
areas.
Dissemination of results
The findings of the study will be shared with University of Dundee, Scotland and Nkhoma Mission
Hospital, Malawi.
The data analysis will be used in the researcher’s final dissertation, which will be submitted to the
University of Dundee. This will form part of the researcher’s assessment for a Bachelor of Medical
Sciences Degree in International Health.
Results may be disseminated in peer review journals and presented at medical meetings.
Description
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE