Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa

Background: In South Africa, many mental healthcare users reside in rural areas and 91% of them live with their family members. Exploring and describing the needs of family members caring for mental healthcare users is important to determine their expectations of the healthcare system. Objectives: ...

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Main Authors: Takalani E. Mbedzi, Anna E. van der Wath, Miriam M. Moagi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2024-11-01
Series:Curationis
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Online Access:https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/2625
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author Takalani E. Mbedzi
Anna E. van der Wath
Miriam M. Moagi
author_facet Takalani E. Mbedzi
Anna E. van der Wath
Miriam M. Moagi
author_sort Takalani E. Mbedzi
collection DOAJ
description Background: In South Africa, many mental healthcare users reside in rural areas and 91% of them live with their family members. Exploring and describing the needs of family members caring for mental healthcare users is important to determine their expectations of the healthcare system. Objectives: The study aimed to explore and describe the healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa Method: A qualitative, descriptive and contextual design was used to collect data from 16 purposively selected family members caring for mental healthcare users. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and analysed using thematic data analysis to develop themes and categories. Results: The results of the interviews yielded two themes, healthcare needs and expectations of family members. The needs included physical healthcare, psychological healthcare, and social, financial, educational and spiritual needs. The healthcare expectations were divided into two sub-themes: (1) expectations from the healthcare systems, and (2) expectations from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: The study showed that support from community members and healthcare providers could reduce the burden of care perceived by family members. Results confirmed the need for developing a family psychoeducational programme adapted to the South African context to meet the family members’ needs. Quantitative research on healthcare needs with a larger sample of family members is recommended. Contribution: The study may contribute to mental health nursing practice and education. Nursing support based on the needs of family members may enhance their well-being and caregiving abilities. The importance of tailor-made psychoeducational family support should be emphasised in nursing education.
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issn 0379-8577
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language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-2593cf19713d4cb59c23c83d5e85d8942024-12-03T11:13:56ZengAOSISCurationis0379-85772223-62792024-11-01472e1e1110.4102/curationis.v47i2.26251574Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South AfricaTakalani E. Mbedzi0Anna E. van der Wath1Miriam M. Moagi2Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, PolokwaneBackground: In South Africa, many mental healthcare users reside in rural areas and 91% of them live with their family members. Exploring and describing the needs of family members caring for mental healthcare users is important to determine their expectations of the healthcare system. Objectives: The study aimed to explore and describe the healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa Method: A qualitative, descriptive and contextual design was used to collect data from 16 purposively selected family members caring for mental healthcare users. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and analysed using thematic data analysis to develop themes and categories. Results: The results of the interviews yielded two themes, healthcare needs and expectations of family members. The needs included physical healthcare, psychological healthcare, and social, financial, educational and spiritual needs. The healthcare expectations were divided into two sub-themes: (1) expectations from the healthcare systems, and (2) expectations from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: The study showed that support from community members and healthcare providers could reduce the burden of care perceived by family members. Results confirmed the need for developing a family psychoeducational programme adapted to the South African context to meet the family members’ needs. Quantitative research on healthcare needs with a larger sample of family members is recommended. Contribution: The study may contribute to mental health nursing practice and education. Nursing support based on the needs of family members may enhance their well-being and caregiving abilities. The importance of tailor-made psychoeducational family support should be emphasised in nursing education.https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/2625caringexpectationsfamily membersmental health care usershealthcare needshealthcare professionals
spellingShingle Takalani E. Mbedzi
Anna E. van der Wath
Miriam M. Moagi
Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
Curationis
caring
expectations
family members
mental health care users
healthcare needs
healthcare professionals
title Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
title_full Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
title_fullStr Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
title_short Healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in South Africa
title_sort healthcare needs and expectations of family members caring for mental healthcare users in south africa
topic caring
expectations
family members
mental health care users
healthcare needs
healthcare professionals
url https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/2625
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AT annaevanderwath healthcareneedsandexpectationsoffamilymemberscaringformentalhealthcareusersinsouthafrica
AT miriammmoagi healthcareneedsandexpectationsoffamilymemberscaringformentalhealthcareusersinsouthafrica