Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology

Abstract Background Identifying contextual factors that might support or hinder implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions for youth in low- and middle- income countries may improve implementation success by increasing the alignment of intervention implementation with local needs a...

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Main Authors: Alethea Desrosiers, Bidemi Carrol, Jacqueline Hayes, Fatoma Momoh, Haley Ritsema, Hannah E. Frank, Unisa Jalloh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20896-w
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author Alethea Desrosiers
Bidemi Carrol
Jacqueline Hayes
Fatoma Momoh
Haley Ritsema
Hannah E. Frank
Unisa Jalloh
author_facet Alethea Desrosiers
Bidemi Carrol
Jacqueline Hayes
Fatoma Momoh
Haley Ritsema
Hannah E. Frank
Unisa Jalloh
author_sort Alethea Desrosiers
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Identifying contextual factors that might support or hinder implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions for youth in low- and middle- income countries may improve implementation success by increasing the alignment of intervention implementation with local needs and resources. This study engaged community partners in Sierra Leone to: (a) investigate barriers and facilitators to implementing a mental health intervention within Sierra Leone’s schools; (b) develop an implementation blueprint to address identified implementation barriers; (c) explore the feasibility of using the implementation blueprint methodology in Sierra Leone. Methods We recruited Ministry of Education Officials (n = 2), teachers (n = 15) and principals (n = 15) in Sierra Leone to participate in needs assessment qualitative interviews. We used a rapid qualitative analysis approach to analyze data. Three team members summarized transcripts based on domains aligned with the structured research questions, organized themes into a matrix, and identified and discussed key themes to arrive at consensus. We then reconvened community partners to discuss implementation strategies that could address identified barriers. Participants ranked barriers according to high/low feasibility and high/low importance and selected implementation strategies for the blueprint. Results Qualitative results revealed several implementation barriers: teacher/parent/student buy-in; teacher motivation; scheduling time; limited funding; waning interest; daily hardships outside of school. Strategies selected included: develop/distribute educational materials; conduct education meetings/outreach; identify and prepare champions; access new funding. Conclusions Engaging community partners to develop an implementation blueprint for integration of a mental health intervention within Sierra Leone’s schools was feasible and may increase implementation effectiveness.
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spelling doaj-art-5e424e4cef8d4e69ae328631e87d053d2025-08-20T02:40:18ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-12-0124111010.1186/s12889-024-20896-wTailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodologyAlethea Desrosiers0Bidemi Carrol1Jacqueline Hayes2Fatoma Momoh3Haley Ritsema4Hannah E. Frank5Unisa Jalloh6Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Warren Alport Medical SchoolRTI InternationalDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Warren Alport Medical SchoolInnovations for Poverty ActionSave the Children International, St Vincent HouseDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Warren Alport Medical SchoolCaritas-FreetownAbstract Background Identifying contextual factors that might support or hinder implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions for youth in low- and middle- income countries may improve implementation success by increasing the alignment of intervention implementation with local needs and resources. This study engaged community partners in Sierra Leone to: (a) investigate barriers and facilitators to implementing a mental health intervention within Sierra Leone’s schools; (b) develop an implementation blueprint to address identified implementation barriers; (c) explore the feasibility of using the implementation blueprint methodology in Sierra Leone. Methods We recruited Ministry of Education Officials (n = 2), teachers (n = 15) and principals (n = 15) in Sierra Leone to participate in needs assessment qualitative interviews. We used a rapid qualitative analysis approach to analyze data. Three team members summarized transcripts based on domains aligned with the structured research questions, organized themes into a matrix, and identified and discussed key themes to arrive at consensus. We then reconvened community partners to discuss implementation strategies that could address identified barriers. Participants ranked barriers according to high/low feasibility and high/low importance and selected implementation strategies for the blueprint. Results Qualitative results revealed several implementation barriers: teacher/parent/student buy-in; teacher motivation; scheduling time; limited funding; waning interest; daily hardships outside of school. Strategies selected included: develop/distribute educational materials; conduct education meetings/outreach; identify and prepare champions; access new funding. Conclusions Engaging community partners to develop an implementation blueprint for integration of a mental health intervention within Sierra Leone’s schools was feasible and may increase implementation effectiveness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20896-wImplementation blueprintQualitative methods, Schools, LMICs, Adolescents
spellingShingle Alethea Desrosiers
Bidemi Carrol
Jacqueline Hayes
Fatoma Momoh
Haley Ritsema
Hannah E. Frank
Unisa Jalloh
Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
BMC Public Health
Implementation blueprint
Qualitative methods, Schools, LMICs, Adolescents
title Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
title_full Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
title_fullStr Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
title_full_unstemmed Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
title_short Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
title_sort tailoring implementation of a youth focused mental health intervention in sierra leone using an implementation blueprint methodology
topic Implementation blueprint
Qualitative methods, Schools, LMICs, Adolescents
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20896-w
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