The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of computers on the provision of community-based mental health services in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. More specifically, the study sought to ascertain the extent to which the use of telephones, The target population of the study consisted of 405 mental health professionals working in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of the country. The study employed the sequential explanatory mixed methods research design. Quantitative data was collected through a questionnaire while a semi-structured interview guide and an observational checklist were used to collect qualitative data from a sample of 300 mental health professionals. Questionnaires were completed by 275 participants while 15 participants were interviewed and 10 others were observed in the two Regions. The purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the sample. Data were analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti software version 8.0. The findings revealed that the use of computers (r=.654, df=425, p=0.003) has a positive correlation with the provision of community-based mental health services. However, it was observed that inadequate computer facilities, electricity and internet, mental health professionals’ lack of training on computers and the lack of motivation by mental health practitioners to use computers for service delivery are limiting factors to computer use in the provision of community-based mental health services. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to mental healthcare trainers, mental health professionals, vulnerable persons affected by mental disorders, the government and other researchers in Cameroon on measures to enhance computer use and integration in mental healthcare research and practice.
Computers, and Community–Based Mental Health Services
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