Interprofessional training on resilience-building for children who experience trauma: Stakeholders’ views from six low- and middle-income countries

ABSTRACT

Children exposed to multiple adversities are at high risk of developing complex mental health and related problems, which are more likely to be met through integrated interprofessional working. Combining the expertise of different practitioners for interprofessional care is especially pertinent in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in the absence of specialist resources. The aim of this study was to work with practitioners who deliver care to vulnerable children in six LMIC (Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Brazil) to understand their perspectives on the content of an interprofessional training programme in building resilience for these children. Seventeen participants from different professional backgrounds, who were in contact with vulnerable children were interviewed. A thematic analytic framework was used. Four themes were identified, which were the benefits of a tiered approach to training, challenges and limitations, perceived impact, and recommendations for future training. The findings indicate the importance of co-ordinated policy, service, and training development in an interprofessional context to maximize resources; the need for cultural adaptation of skilled-based training and interventions; and the usefulness of new technologies to enhance accessibility and reduce costs in LMIC.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• child mental health
• trauma
• low/middle income countries
• qualitative methods
• interviews

Acknowledgments

The authors are responsible for the writing and content of this article. We are grateful to all participants for their input to the training and the interviews.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflicts of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Research Impact Development Fund through the University of Leicester [n/a].