Factors Influencing The Implementation Of Mental Health And Psychosocial Support Program: A Case Of Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement-Child Resource Center, Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Health as defined by World Health Organization is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Inter-Agency standing committee (IASC) considers refugees and migrants in irregular situations (especially trafficked women and children without identification papers) among others as people at risk of mental health problems. Child Resource Centers have been established in Kakuma and Kalobeyei as an avenue where children are able to obtain psychosocial support through various activities offered by psychosocial facilitators. There is still need for more to be done. In Kakuma and Kalobeyei exists mostly intervention models such as specialized services thus the need to increase preventive intervention models. To do so feasibility of such a program was assessed. The study objectives were to determine how contextual factors, to establish how input factors, to examine how process factors and to determine how product factors influence the implementation of a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) program in Kalobeyei integrated settlement, Turkana County, Kenya. The study was delimited to Kalobeyei integrated settlement, Turkana County, Kenya. Limitation included unwillingness to participate by respondents but careful explanation of importance and purpose of study helped to encourage their participation. This study was significant as it is expected to establish the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of such a project through evaluation of specific factors that have been identified by WHO, IUHPE as indicators in a holistic manner. The research study design used was a descriptive survey study using mixed method data collection method. The study used a census sample. The unit of study was 1 Child resource center (CRC) in Kalobeyei integrated settlement. The target population was 1 psychosocial support (PSS) officer, 10 facilitators and 30 parents from the CRC committee a total of 41 participants. The research instruments used were questionnaires and written documents. Content validity was used to validate the questionnaires and split-half testing for reliability of the instruments. Data was sorted, coded and run through SPSS software using correlation and regression analysis. Data presentation was tabular. From the findings the study concluded that contextual factors by a composite mean of 3.475, input factors by 3.325, process factors by 3.15 and product factors by 3.05 respectively influence implementation of MHPSS program in Kalobeyei integrated settlement CRC. The study recommends that further studies to be done at other humanitarian settings providing MHPSS program to provide concerted efforts on how to minimize them.