Abstract
Mental health remains a major public health concern worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to care is limited. The study investigated the factors associated with the provision of quality mental health care among healthcare workers in Johannesburg District Hospitals, South Africa. The overall hypothesis was that there are significant factors associated with the provision of quality mental health care among healthcare workers in Johannesburg District Hospitals, South Africa.
The study employed a cross-sectional design and a stratified random sampling method to select 135 participants. A total of 160 participants were involved in the study. The population consisted of healthcare workers involved in providing mental health care at Johannesburg District Hospitals.
Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, clinical practices, organisational factors and perceptions of care quality. Data were analysed using SPSS version 29, employing descriptive statistics with inferential statistics like logistic regression and chi-squared test. A p-value less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was used as a criterion for significant factors.
The results displayed a critical concern regarding the perceived quality of mental health care provision among healthcare workers in three district hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa. An overwhelming 91.88% (n=147) of respondents perceived the quality of mental health services as low, while only 8.12% (n=13) regarded it as high. This study revealed that age, marital status and healthcare workers’ engagement with patients significantly influence the quality of mental health care provided.
The high prevalence of healthcare workers perceiving mental health care provision as low quality reflects systemic issues including inadequate training, resource limitations and policy neglect. Addressing these gaps requires targeted investment in workforce development, better infrastructure, and a shift toward integrating mental health into broader health strategies. Empowering healthcare workers through continuous professional development, improved working conditions and stigma-reduction interventions is essential to improving both perception and actual service quality in mental health care.