Achieving SDG 3.4 : a policy analysis of three SADC countries

Abstract

The objective of this comparative study was to describe and compare the mental health policies of the three Southern African countries (South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia) that share a common membership in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and to understand how the formulation of the action plans may assist the three countries to achieve SDG Target 3.4. especially since past studies had mainly focussed on mental health policy implementation. The research methodology was a qualitative approach that analysed primary data, namely the content of mental health policies, using a qualitative document analysis (QDA). In this study, the lens of the policy diffusion theory suggests that 'learning' and 'cohesion' mechanisms may have influenced the formulation of policies and that the mental health policies of the three SADC countries, despite having nuanced differences, adhered to the SADC protocol on health, which supports community care services. This study further emphasises the importance of the SADC secretariat playing an active role in ensuring that all of its member states, regardless of economic status, implement UHC and achieve SDG target 3.4. Overall, this study demonstrates that achieving UHC could reduce suicide rates, as non-communicable diseases remain high in countries that have not implemented UHC.