Assessing data flow, facilitators and barriers to implementing mental health monitoring & evaluation systems in Mengo Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Barriers to implementing mental health M&E Systems remain a huge problem and regardless of Uganda’s M&E Systems being in place, they were still grappling with collecting the expected data. These barriers range from limited mental health prioritization, financial and human resource constraints amongst other hindrances.

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess data flow, facilitators & barriers to implementing mental health M&E Systems in Mengo Hospital.

Materials and methods: It was an intrinsic case study research design that created evidenced results and enabled optimization of qualitative research methods. The study involved sixteen key informant interviews whose participants were selected using purposive sampling techniques in addition to observations following a checklist and document review of Health Facility information, documents and other resources for instance journals, administrative reports, and the Health Management Information Systems. There was use of narrative, content and deductive analyses of interview data based on themes identified subsequent to coding and entry into Atlas Ti. Version 8 software.

Results: Results focused on three components of the M&E System namely; human resource (HR) capacity for M&E, evaluation and data dissemination and use as data flow at Mengo Hospital was observed to heed Ministry of Health regulation. Amongst the various facilitators identified were demand driven administration, modern technology, systems approach and administrative will. However, barriers as financial constraints, information gap and limited prioritization of mental health were found to inhibit mental health M&E Systems.

Conclusion: The study results highlighted implementation of a coordinated data flow process where tools not limited to, “Clinic Master” were operational at Mengo hospital. But given the contradictory existence of a dominant administrative and political will, a huge mental health M&E information gap was ascertained hence general recommendation was made towards more management and administration’s engagement in the mental health department at Mengo hospital for instance in more knowledge development activities to enhance monitoring and evaluation systems.