Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of implementation outcomes in an integrated mental healthcare trial in South Africa

Bibliographic Details
Title: Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of implementation outcomes in an integrated mental healthcare trial in South Africa
Authors: André Janse van Rensburg, Tasneem Kathree, Erica Breuer, One Selohilwe, Ntokozo Mntambo, Ruwayda Petrus, Arvin Bhana, Crick Lund, Lara Fairall, Inge Petersen
Source: Global Health Action, Vol 14, Iss 1 (2021)
Publisher Information: Taylor & Francis Group, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Public aspects of medicine
Subject Terms: integrated mental healthcare, health systems, primary healthcare, qualitative comparative analysis, low-to-middle income country, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
More Details: Background Integrating mental health services into primary healthcare platforms is an established health systems strategy in low-to-middle-income countries. In South Africa, this was pursued through the Programme for Improving Mental Health Care (PRIME), a multi-country initiative that relied on task-sharing as a principle implementation strategy. Towards better describing the implementation processes, qualitative comparative analysis was adopted to explore causal pathways in the intervention. Objective This study aimed to explore factors that could have influenced key outcomes of an integrated mental healthcare intervention in South Africa. Methods Drawing from an embedded multiple case study design, the analysis used qualitative comparative analysis. Focusing on nine PHC clinics in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District as cases, with depression reduction scores set as outcome measures, trial data variables were modelled in a hypothetical causal process. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was performed by 1) developing the research questions, 2) developing the fuzzy set, 3) testing necessity and 4) testing sufficiency. These steps were undertaken collaboratively among the research team. Results The data were calibrated during several meetings among team members to gain a degree of consensus. Necessity analyses suggested that none of the causal conditions exceeded the threshold of necessity and triviality, and confirmed the inclusion of relevant variables in line with the proposed models. Sufficiency analyses produced two configurations, which were subjected to standard and specific analyses. Ultimately, the results suggested that none of the causal conditions were necessary for a reduction in depression scores to occur, while programme fidelity was identified as a sufficient condition for a reduction in scores to occur. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of understanding implementation pathways to enable better integration of mental health services within primary healthcare in low-to-middle-income settings. It underlines the importance of programme fidelity in achieving the goals of implementation.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1654-9880
16549716
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1654-9880
DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1940761
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/4f1526e8bd504a33bfe5c324dd2f16db
Accession Number: edsdoj.4f1526e8bd504a33bfe5c324dd2f16db
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Full text is not displayed to guests.
More Details
ISSN:16549880
16549716
DOI:10.1080/16549716.2021.1940761
Published in:Global Health Action
Language:English