Mugotitsa B, Andeso P, Owoko H, Momanyi R, Mailosi D, Ssebunnya J, Tsofa B, Greenfield J, Kiragga A, Todd J
BMC Health Serv Res. 2025;25
INTRODUCTION: Mental health disorders remain a significant public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya and Uganda due to limited resources, stigma, and inadequate service integration. The INSPIRE Mental Health (MH) Project aims to address these challenges by developing an open-source data science platform that aligns with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. A Theory of Change (ToC) was developed to guide project implementation. METHODS: A participatory approach was employed, involving targeted intrest holder engagements through workshops, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with policymakers, healthcare providers, Village Health Team (VHT) members, data managers, researchers, and community representatives. All participants provided informed consent be- fore inclusion in the study. Collected data was transcribed, cleaned, and analyzed using Atlas.ti, employing thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. The insights gained in- formed the development of the ToC, which visually maps causal linkages between project activities, assumptions, and anticipated outcomes. FINDINGS: Interest-holders identified key challenges in mental health service delivery, including fragmented services, inadequate funding, and limited data management capacity. The findings were categorized into five themes: (1) mental health program design, (2) bur- den assessment, (3) screening and assessment tools, (4) data reporting and utilization, (5) prospects for longitudinal studies. Participants emphasized the need for standardized data collection, improved reporting systems, and capacity building in data science techniques to support evidence-based decision-making. CONCLUSION: The ToC framework offers a strategic roadmap to enhance mental health service delivery and data utilization, fostering collaboration and sustainability. By promoting FAIR data principles and interest holder engagement, the project aims to support informed mental health interventions in Kenya and Uganda. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-025-13474-2.
