Implementation science in global health settings: Collaborating with governmental & community partners in Uganda
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Mary M McKay1, Ozge Sensoy Bahar1, Fred M Ssewamala1
1Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Insights
This study improved youth mental health in Uganda by adapting and testing evidence-based practices (EBPs) through community and government collaboration. Findings support scalable, sustainable interventions for children
Area of Science:
- Global Mental Health
- Implementation Science
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Millions globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), face mental health challenges.
- Sub-Saharan Africa's children are underserved by scarce mental health services and evidence-based practices (EBPs).
- Uganda has a high prevalence of child mental health issues, including disruptive behavior disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe strategies for engaging community and government partners in a collaborative, longitudinal study in Uganda.
- To improve youth behavioral health outcomes by testing a collaboratively adapted EBP.
- To highlight the role of collaboration in adapting, scaling, and sustaining EBPs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability (PRISM) framework.
- Engaged community and government partners in a longitudinal study.
- Collaboratively adapted and tested an evidence-based practice (EBP) for youth behavioral health.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful engagement of stakeholders for a collaborative study.
- Initiated testing of a collaboratively adapted EBP to address youth mental health needs.
- Emphasized the importance of sustained partnerships and meeting stakeholder needs.
Conclusions:
- Implementation scientists must invest in stakeholder engagement and relationship sustainability.
- Research must address a genuine need within the community.
- Rapid translation of findings into policy recommendations is crucial for EBP uptake and sustainability.
Abstract:
Approximately 450 million people, many of whom live in poverty and are from low and middle-income countries (LMICs), experience serious mental health challenges. Children in sub-Saharan Africa comprise half of the total regional population, yet existing mental health services are severely under-equipped to meet their needs and evidence-based practices (EBPs) are scarce. In Uganda, one in five children present mental health challenges, including disruptive behavior disorders. Guided by the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability (PRISM) framework, this paper describes the strategies by which we have engaged community and government partners to invest in a collaborative, longitudinal study in Uganda aimed at improving youth behavioral health outcomes by testing a collaboratively adapted EBP. We emphasize that implementation scientists should be prepared and willing to invest time and effort engaging key stakeholders and sustain relationships through a full range of collaborative activities; ensure that their science meets a felt need among the stakeholders; and translate their research findings rapidly into accessible and actionable policy recommendations. Finally, we highlight that collaboration with global communities and governments plays a critical role in the adaptation, uptake, scalability, and sustainability of EBPs, and that the process of engagement and collaboration can be guided by conceptual frameworks.
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