Use of coercion in mental healthcare services in Nigeria: Service providers' perspective

Deborah Oyine Aluh; Olaniyi Ayilara; Justus Uchenna Onu; Barbara Pedrosa; Manuela Silva; Ugnė Grigaitė; Margarida Santos-Dias; Graça Cardoso; José Miguel Caldas-de-Almeida

doi:10.1080/09638237.2023.2182426

Use of coercion in mental healthcare services in Nigeria: Service providers' perspective

Deborah Oyine Aluh, Olaniyi Ayilara, Justus Uchenna Onu, Barbara Pedrosa, Manuela Silva, Ugnė Grigaitė, Margarida Santos-Dias, Graça Cardoso, José Miguel Caldas-de-Almeida

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is increasing advocacy to reduce coercive practices in mental healthcare. Little research has been done on the topic in developing countries.

AIMS: To explore what mental health professionals in Nigeria think about coercion, why it is used, and what contextual factors influence its use in mental healthcare services.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 doctors and 14 nurses from two psychiatric hospitals in two regions of Nigeria. The audio-recorded interviews were analyzed thematically with the aid of MAXQDA software.

RESULTS: Three broad categories relating to the perception of, reasons for, and barriers/facilitators to the use of coercion were derived. Coercion was viewed as being for the best interests of patients, a means to an end, and effective for achieving desired outcomes. Safety was both a reason to use a coercive measure and a deterrent to using specific coercive measures thought to be unsafe. The socio-cultural context, obsolete mental health legislation, staff shortages, and attitudes were factors influencing the use of coercion in mental healthcare.

CONCLUSION: Coercion was perceived to be ultimately beneficial in mental health practice. There is need for a new mental health legislation and more resources for mental health care in Nigeria to address the problem of coercion.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Mental Health
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2023.2182426
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 27 Feb 2023

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10.1080/09638237.2023.2182426

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title = "Use of coercion in mental healthcare services in Nigeria: Service providers' perspective",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: There is increasing advocacy to reduce coercive practices in mental healthcare. Little research has been done on the topic in developing countries.AIMS: To explore what mental health professionals in Nigeria think about coercion, why it is used, and what contextual factors influence its use in mental healthcare services.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 doctors and 14 nurses from two psychiatric hospitals in two regions of Nigeria. The audio-recorded interviews were analyzed thematically with the aid of MAXQDA software.RESULTS: Three broad categories relating to the perception of, reasons for, and barriers/facilitators to the use of coercion were derived. Coercion was viewed as being for the best interests of patients, a means to an end, and effective for achieving desired outcomes. Safety was both a reason to use a coercive measure and a deterrent to using specific coercive measures thought to be unsafe. The socio-cultural context, obsolete mental health legislation, staff shortages, and attitudes were factors influencing the use of coercion in mental healthcare.CONCLUSION: Coercion was perceived to be ultimately beneficial in mental health practice. There is need for a new mental health legislation and more resources for mental health care in Nigeria to address the problem of coercion.",

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T2 - Service providers' perspective

AU - Aluh, Deborah Oyine

AU - Ayilara, Olaniyi

AU - Onu, Justus Uchenna

AU - Pedrosa, Barbara

AU - Silva, Manuela

AU - Grigaitė, Ugnė

AU - Santos-Dias, Margarida

AU - Cardoso, Graça

AU - Caldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel

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N2 - BACKGROUND: There is increasing advocacy to reduce coercive practices in mental healthcare. Little research has been done on the topic in developing countries.AIMS: To explore what mental health professionals in Nigeria think about coercion, why it is used, and what contextual factors influence its use in mental healthcare services.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 doctors and 14 nurses from two psychiatric hospitals in two regions of Nigeria. The audio-recorded interviews were analyzed thematically with the aid of MAXQDA software.RESULTS: Three broad categories relating to the perception of, reasons for, and barriers/facilitators to the use of coercion were derived. Coercion was viewed as being for the best interests of patients, a means to an end, and effective for achieving desired outcomes. Safety was both a reason to use a coercive measure and a deterrent to using specific coercive measures thought to be unsafe. The socio-cultural context, obsolete mental health legislation, staff shortages, and attitudes were factors influencing the use of coercion in mental healthcare.CONCLUSION: Coercion was perceived to be ultimately beneficial in mental health practice. There is need for a new mental health legislation and more resources for mental health care in Nigeria to address the problem of coercion.

AB - BACKGROUND: There is increasing advocacy to reduce coercive practices in mental healthcare. Little research has been done on the topic in developing countries.AIMS: To explore what mental health professionals in Nigeria think about coercion, why it is used, and what contextual factors influence its use in mental healthcare services.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 doctors and 14 nurses from two psychiatric hospitals in two regions of Nigeria. The audio-recorded interviews were analyzed thematically with the aid of MAXQDA software.RESULTS: Three broad categories relating to the perception of, reasons for, and barriers/facilitators to the use of coercion were derived. Coercion was viewed as being for the best interests of patients, a means to an end, and effective for achieving desired outcomes. Safety was both a reason to use a coercive measure and a deterrent to using specific coercive measures thought to be unsafe. The socio-cultural context, obsolete mental health legislation, staff shortages, and attitudes were factors influencing the use of coercion in mental healthcare.CONCLUSION: Coercion was perceived to be ultimately beneficial in mental health practice. There is need for a new mental health legislation and more resources for mental health care in Nigeria to address the problem of coercion.

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DO - 10.1080/09638237.2023.2182426

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SN - 0963-8237

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JO - Journal of Mental Health

JF - Journal of Mental Health

ER -

Use of coercion in mental healthcare services in Nigeria: Service providers' perspective

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