Service Delivery

How Do Malawian Women Rate the Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care? Experiences and Perceptions of Women in the Central and Southern Regions

Our objective was to measure women’s perceived quality of maternal and newborn care using a composite scale and to identify individual and service delivery factors associated with such perceptions in Malawi. [from abstract]

Indigenous Peoples’ Access to Health Services

This publication sets out to examine the major challenges for indigenous peoples to obtain adequate access to and utilization of quality health care services. It provides an important background to many of the health issues that indigenous peoples are currently facing. Improving indigenous peoples’ health remains a critical challenge for indigenous peoples, States and the United Nations. [from forward]

Utilization of Community Based Health Information Systems; Management and Community Service Delivery in Kenya

Large scale community health programs have utilized various strategies based on the Alma Ata primary health care declaration in 1978 where community participation, multi-sectoral engagement and involvement of community workers play and important role. A qualitative study was undertaken in two counties in Kenya that were implementing the government’s
Community Health Strategy since 2006. The study used a questionnaire guide for data collection from respondents consisting of Community Health Workers, Community Committee members, Community Health Extension Workers and service users.

Impact of Health Systems Strengthening on Health

This report, based on a review of systematic reviews of the effects on health of Health System Strengthening (HSS), presents a significant body of evidence linking HSS interventions to measureable impact on health for vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries. Making decisions on who delivers health services and where and how these services are organized is important to achieve priority health goals. The findings of this report document the value of investing in HSS. [adapted from resource]

Research Utilization among Nurses at a Teaching Hospital in Kenya

In the era of evidence based practice ( EBP), health care delivery should be grounded on new or validated knowledge and evidence from research. The aim of the study was to assess research utilization by nurses and the influencing factors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the largest teaching hospital in Kenya. [From abstract]

Lean Management in the South African Public Health Sector: A Case Study

This chapter gives an account of one relatively modest but effective intervention in an orthopaedic outpatient clinic at the New Somerset Hospital (NSH) in Cape Town in 2013. This project aimed to reduce patient waiting times in the clinic, and improve patient satisfaction.

Ensuring Human Rights in the Provision of Contraceptive Information and Services

These WHO guidelines provide recommendations for programmes as to how they can ensure that human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled, while services are scaled up to reduce unmet need for contraception. Both health data and international human rights laws and treaties were incorporated into the guidance. [from abstract]

What Drives the Community Health Services in Kenya: Results of a recent mapping exercise of Community Health Units in three regions of Turkana North, Greater Machakos, and Kibera

This position paper highlights the outcome of a recent mapping exercise in Turkana, Machakos and Kibera. Insights
from this study indicate that communities have embraced the Community Health Strategy and its contribution to improved
health status. [from introduction]

Global Evidence on Inequities in Rural Health Protection: New Data on Rural Deficits in Health Coverage for 174 Countries

This paper presents global estimates on rural/urban disparities in access to health-care services. The report uses proxy indicators to assess key dimensions of coverage and access involving the core principles of universality and equity. Based on the results of the estimates, policy options are discussed to close the gaps in a multi-sectoral approach addressing issues and their root causes both within and beyond the health sector. [from abstract]

Tracking Implementation and (Un)intended Consequences: A Process Evaluation of an Innovative Peripheral Health Facility Financing Mechanism in Kenya

In many African countries, user fees have failed to achieve intended access and quality of care improvements. Subsequent user fee reduction or elimination policies have often been poorly planned, without alternative sources of income for facilities. We describe early implementation of an innovative national health financing intervention in Kenya; the health sector services fund (HSSF). [from abstract]

Training Process Towards Strengthening Service Delivery In Dagoretti Sub-County

Despite progress in developing more effective training methodologies, training initiatives for health workers continue to experience common pitfalls that have beset the overall success. To improve the quality of healthcare service, the shortage of healthcare workers must be addressed by giving quality training and education needed to fill the gap to increase the output of qualified healthcare workers. [from abstract]

Primary Health Care Expectations and Reality in Bangladesh: A Sociological Analysis of the Selected Two Rural Areas

This research deals with the expectations and reality of primary health care in Bangladesh and focuses on different
Government and NGOs health care situation in rural areas. [from abstract]

Can Smartphones and Tablets Improve the Management of Childhood Illness in Tanzania? A Qualitative Study from a Primary Health Care Worker's Perspective

The impact of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy has been less than anticipated because of poor uptake. Electronic algorithms have the potential to improve quality of health care in children. However, feasibility studies about the use of electronic protocols on mobile devices over time are limited. This study investigated constraining as well as facilitating factors that influence the uptake of a new electronic Algorithm for
Management of Childhood Illness (ALMANACH) among primary health workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [from abstract]

Determinants of Access to Healthcare by Older Persons in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Older persons report poor health status and greater need for healthcare. However, there is limited research on older persons’ healthcare disparities in Uganda. Therefore, this paper aimed at investigating factors associated with older persons’ healthcare access in Uganda, using a nationally representative sample. [from abstract]

Health Providers’ Perspectives on Delivering Public Health Services Under the Contract Service Policy in Rural China: Evidence from Xinjian County

This study is a rare attempt to explore the perspectives of health providers on the contract service policy, and investigate the demand side’s attitude toward the public health services delivered under the contract policy. This evidence from Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, the first and most representative pilot site of the contract service, could serve as a reference for policymakers to understand the initial effects of the policy, whereby they can regulate and amend some items before extending it to the whole country. [from abstract]

Strengthening Health Systems for Resilience

In countries with high levels of poverty or instability and with poor health system management and governance, people are highly vulnerable to shocks associated with ill health, including major epidemics. An effective health system can help build their resilience by reducing exposure to infection and minimising the impact of sickness on livelihoods and economic development. [from introduction]

Factors Affecting Choice of Place for Childbirth Among Women in Ahferom Woreda, Tigray, 2013

Reduction of maternal mortality is a global priority particularly in developing countries including
Ethiopia where maternal mortality ratio is one of the highest in the world. The key to reducing maternal mortality ratio is increasing attendance by skilled health personnel throughout pregnancy and delivery. However, delivery service is significantly lower in Tigray region. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors affecting choice of place of child birth among women in Ahferom woreda. [from abstract]

The Effect of Hospital Service Quality on Patient's Trust

This study aimed to examine the effect of quality of services provided in private hospitals on the patient’s trust. [from abstract]

Utilization of Community Health Workers for Malaria Treatment: Results from a Three-Year Panel Study in the Districts of Kaya and Zorgho, Burkina Faso

Malaria is holo-endemic in Burkina Faso and causes approximately 40,000 deaths every year. In 2010, health authorities scaled up community case management of malaria with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Previous trials and pilot project evaluations have shown that this strategy may be feasible, acceptable, and effective under controlled implementation conditions. However, little is known about its effectiveness or feasibility/acceptability under real-world conditions of implementation at national scale. [from abstract]

Strengthening the Foundation for Sustainable Primary Health Care Services in Nigeria

The aim of this descriptive, interventional study is to highlight positive steps taken by governments to re-establish and revitalise PHC, especially by empowering communities, the challenges, and lessons learned as potentials for improvement of a universal, qualitative PHC system in Nigeria. [from abstract]

Integrated Care for Women, Mothers, Children and Newborns: Approaches and Models for Mental Health, Pediatric and Prenatal Care Settings

“Integrated” behavioral health care most often refers to coordinated primary care and mental health care delivery at a co-located clinical site or psychiatric consultation service to a primary care clinical site. Women’s perinatal medical and mental health is an ideal target for integrated, patient-centered, and family-centered care. [from abstract]

Maternal Satisfaction with the Delivery Services in Assela Hospital, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region

Objective of this paper is to assess maternal satisfaction with the delivery service in Assela hospital, Arsi zone, Oromia region. [from abstract]

Barriers to Accessing Health Care Services for Children With Disabilities in Southern Africa: The Case of Namibia

The review found out that the barriers to access occur when the density of health care facilities is low and in settings where the transportation system, road networks and infrastructure is poor. Most of the studies under review further noted that even in cases where health services are well distributed and available other factors act as barriers to access. [from abstract]

Attitudes and Practices of Health Care Workers Towards HIV Positive Patients at the Federal Medical Centre Owo Ondo State Nigeria

The study was designed to determine the attitude and practices of health care workers towards HIV positive patients at the Federal Medical Centre Owo , Ondo State, Nigeria. [from abstract]

Optimizing Performance and Quality

Optimizing Performance and Quality (OPQ) is a stakeholder-driven, cyclical process for analyzing human and organizational performance and setting up interventions to improve performance and quality or build on strengths and successes. The OPQ process is a seven-stage process to builds capacity within an organization to recognize and address problems or performance gaps on an ongoing basis. [from resource]

Health Seeking Behaviour and Challenges in Utilising Health Facilities in Wakiso District, Uganda

The health seeking behaviour of a community determines how they use health services. Utilisation of health facilities can be influenced by the cost of services, distance to health facilities, cultural beliefs, level of education and health facility inadequacies such as stock-out of drugs.
This study will assess the health seeking practices and challenges in utilising health facilities in a rural community in Wakiso district, Uganda. [from abstract]

Improving Health Outcomes and Health Care in India

With India’s low life expectancy largely reflecting deaths from preventable diseases, the most significant gains in health would come from population-wide preventive measures. Access to public health care services varies substantially, resulting in many people turning to private-sector providers who mainly serve those who can pay. [from abstract]

Geographic Variations in Health Care: What Do We Know and What Can Be Done to Improve Health System Performance?

This study documents geographic variations for high-cost and high-volume procedures in select OECD countries. It finds that there are wide variations not only across countries, but within them as well. [from abstract]

Enhancing Human Resources for HIV/AIDS Services Delivery through Pharmacists Volunteer Scheme: A Case Report of Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria Project

Inadequate pharmacy human resources have been a significant challenge faced in delivering public health interventions. In GHAIN project, the average pharmacist-patient ratio per clinic day was about 1:100. This had a negative effect on quality of care provided to patients. The project evolved a volunteer scheme aimed at mitigating the inadequacy of pharmacists amidst increasing workload. This article describes how the scheme was used to improve the human resource challenge in supported health facilities and the lessons learnt. [from abstract]

Perceived Barriers to Accessing Specialized Medical Care in Rural Communities of Ontario: A Pilot Study

Rural residents seeking health care face barriers due to a shortage of healthcare professionals and the travel distance required to obtain medical services. A pilot study was conducted to examine rural residents’ ability to access specialized care. This quantitative pen and paper survey was implemented in two communities with similar health care infrastructure(Tweed, Ontario and Hensall, Ontario). [adapted from abstract]