APA to States, Insurers: Provide Access to Mental Health Care During COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

Background: Integration of psychiatric care with public health services and offering mental health care services to patients from lower socioeconomic status remains a global challenge. Scarcity of funds and professional workforce in psychiatric hospitals contribute to this situation. However, negative attitudes in the population are also a known impediment to patients seeking mental health services. This study aimed to assess the attitudes toward psychiatric hospitals among the urban and rural population in India.Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out amongst the general population in Odisha, India. The total sample (n = 988) includes 496 respondents from an urban-setting, and 492 respondents from rural parts of the district. Participants were selected by using simple random-sampling from the Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH) data base. A standardized seven-item questionnaire was adopted, with responses indicated on a 5-point Likert-scale. Interviews were fully structured and conducted face-to-face.Results: Level of education (B = −0.192, ß = −0.320, p < 0.000) and urban-rural comparison (B = −0.272, ß = −0.189, p < 0.000) significantly influenced attitudes toward psychiatric hospitals. Gender, age, and religious beliefs did not show any significant effect on attitudes toward psychiatric hospitals. Individuals in rural areas and those with lower education levels showed more negative attitudes toward psychiatric hospitals.Conclusion: Negative attitudes toward psychiatric hospitals from those living in rural areas as well as those with lesser education may be reflective of the lack of availability, accessibility, affordability, and credibility of such mental health services. The Mental Health Care Act in India is a progressive legislation which might improve the situation of the provided services and, consequently, reduce negative attitudes in the years to come.

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Bioethics and COVID-19

Mexican Bioethics Review ICSA ◽

10.29057/mbr.v2i4.6299 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 29-35

Author(s):

Arianna Omaña-Covarrubias ◽

Michelle Acosta Meneses ◽

Adrián Moya- Escalera ◽

Lydia López -Pontigo

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health System ◽

Life Sciences ◽

Entire Population ◽

Public Authorities ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Hygiene Measures ◽

The Face

The term bioethics can be defined as a discipline that studies the dimensions of morals, decisions, behaviour and policies of the life sciences and health care. Its objective is auxiliary, guiding on the implications of phenome, where infinite dilemmatic situations arise. The crisis that is currently facing the current pandemic is a public health crisis. The priority in the face of this crisis should be the health system and its professionals. To overcome this crisis, it is not only a matter of public authorities and powers. It is essential that the entire population implements the bioethics exercise, complying with the isolation and hygiene measures, whatever has been determined where they have been adopted.

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