The CPMH’s seminar programme is an opportunity to share on-going work and invite broader participation in the Centre.

On 4 May 2021 the Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health hosted a seminar by Dr. Thandi Davies. She is a post-doctoral researcher in the field of public mental health.

Task sharing using community health workers (CHWs) has been recommended as a cost-effective means to address the mental health treatment gap and reduce the burden on mental health specialists in public health services. Evidence has shown moderate effects of task-shared treatments on the reduction of perinatal depression, but little is known about the processes, mechanisms and elements that lead these treatments to be effective. This thesis was nested in the AFFIRM-SA randomised controlled trial (RCT), which aimed to test a 6-session psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression delivered by CHWs in Khayelitsha, South Africa. The aim of this thesis was to explore the mechanisms of implementation and change of this intervention through a process evaluation. A framework analysis and grounded theory was used to analyse 34 interview transcripts and 234 counselling session transcripts with project participants and community health workers.

Please view the seminar below.