scholarly journals Tuberculosis control activities in the private and public health sectors of Kenya from 2013 to 2017: how do they compare?

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 740-748
Author(s):  
Eunice W Mailu ◽  
Philip Owiti ◽  
Serge Ade ◽  
Anthony D Harries ◽  
Marcel Manzi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Large numbers of tuberculosis (TB) patients seek care from private for-profit providers. This study aimed to assess and compare TB control activities in the private for-profit and public sectors in Kenya between 2013 and 2017. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using routinely collected data from the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program. Results Of 421 409 patients registered and treated between 2013 and 2017, 86 894 (21%) were from the private sector. Data collection was less complete in the private sector for nutritional assessment and follow-up sputum smear examinations (p<0.001). The private sector notified less bacteriologically confirmed TB (43.1% vs 52.6%; p<0.001) and had less malnutrition (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2; 36.4% vs 43.3%; p<0.001) than the public sector. Rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and antiretroviral therapy initiation were >95% and >90%, respectively, in both sectors, but more patients were HIV positive in the private sector (39.6% vs 31.6%; p<0.001). For bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB, cure rates were lower in the private sector, especially for HIV-negative patients (p<0.001). The private sector had an overall treatment success of 86.3% as compared with the public sector at 85.7% (p<0.001). Conclusions The private sector is performing well in Kenya although there are programmatic challenges that need to be addressed.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-37
Author(s):  
Mahmooda Naqvi ◽  
Maryum Zehra ◽  
Ghazala Noor Nizami

To compare the frequency of common musculoskeletal disorders due to prolong sitting among private and public sector bankers. This study was a cross-sectional study. Participants between 25-50 years of age, working in banks for more than one year were inducted in the study. All bankers were divided into private and public sector groups. Employees were selected from private sector and public sector banks of Karachi. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from bankers of both sectors. The study shows that 44.6% government employees were suffering from shoulder pain, while 36.9% private sector bankers having this problem. Among them 18.2% of public sector bankers suffered from neck pain. However, only 9% of public sector bankers perform gym activity regularly. The result of the study shows that, participants who work for prolong period of time adapted poor posture while sitting have high frequency of musculoskeletal disorders. The study also shows that private sector bankers are more vigilant about their health and posture as compared to the public sector bankers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Caemmerer ◽  
Alistair Dewar

In the past, public sector organizations have been used as examples of service atrocities but in light of unstable overall customer satisfaction levels across countries and industries the purpose of this research note is to investigate whether their private counterparts fare much better in terms of service performance. A quantitative, quasi-experimental study was carried out with 200 respondents. The survey tool was based on the SERVQUAL framework to compare recipients service expectations and perceptions in private and public service settings. The results reveal no significant differences between expectations towards and perceptions of private and public services. The traditional SERVQUAL dimensions explain 74% of overall satisfaction in the public, and 87% in the private sector. As this is a cross-sectional study more research is necessary to understand whether the results are due to an amelioration in the public and a deterioration in the private sector, or vice versa, or neither. The study stimulates debate and further research into the underlying reasons for customers similar expectations and perceptions across sectors. Is actual service performance across sectors assimilating? Or do perceptions in one sector setting impact on expectations and perceptions in another?


Author(s):  
Yaya Coulibaly ◽  
Fanta Sangho ◽  
Aboubacar Alassane Oumar

Objective: The drug policy of Mali is based on the concept of essential generic drugs. The adoption of generic drugs in a program is often accompanied by irrational use of these drugs precisely because of the availability of these drugs. Thus, this study was initiated to assess the quality of prescribing and dispensing drugs in Mali. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2004 to 2013, the survey was conducted in 20 primary health centers and 20 private pharmacies in three regions of the country. In each of these structures, 30 prescriptions filled at the time of the survey were collected. Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 3.0 ± 1.3 and 2.4 ± 1.2, respectively, in the public and private sectors. Prescription of drugs under international name was 91.6% in the public sector and 37.2% in the private sector. The public sector prescribed 33.7% of injectable drug against 16.2% in the private sector (p <0.001). The average cost of a prescription was lower in the public sector (3415.3 FCFA or 5.21euros) than in the private sector (7111 FCFA or 10.85 euros).Conclusion: Generic drugs are commonly used in the public, but much less in the private sector. The treatment guidelines are already available, should be introduced interactively to medical practitioners, through visits and intensive supervision by more experienced managers in the hierarchy, it would be likely to improve the quality of prescribing practitioners.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavisha J Parmar ◽  
Saima L Rajasingam ◽  
Jennifer K Bizley ◽  
Deborah A Vickers

Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the use speech testing in adult audiology services Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional questionnaire study Study Sample: A UK sample (n=306) of hearing healthcare professionals (HHPs) from the public (64%) and private sector (36%) completed the survey Results: In the UK, speech testing practice varied significantly between health sector. Speech testing was carried out during the audiology assessment by 68% of private sector HHPs and 5% of those from the public sector. During the hearing aid intervention stage speech testing was carried out by 40% and 8% of HHPs from the private and public sector, respectively. Recognised benefits of speech testing included: 1) providing patients with relatable assessment information, 2) guiding hearing aid fitting, 3) supporting a diagnostic test battery. A lack of clinical time was a key barrier to uptake. Conclusion: Use of speech testing varies in adult audiology. Results from the present study found the percentage of UK HHPs making use of speech tests was low compared to other countries. HHPs recognised different benefits of speech testing in audiology practice but the barriers limiting uptake were often driven by factors derived from decision makers rather than clinical rationale. Privately funded HHPs used speech tests more frequently than those working in the public sector where time and resources are under greater pressure and governed by guidance that does not include a recommendation for speech testing. Therefore, the inclusion of speech testing in national clinical guidelines could increase the consistency of use.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Mahmooda Naqvi ◽  
Muhammad Shahid ◽  
Ghazala Noor Nizami ◽  
Sania Hassan Ali

OBJECTIVE To compare the knowledge and practice of ergonomics among bankers of private and public sector. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted on bankers of Karachi over a period of 6 months. 200 participants were recruited from one of the reputed public sector bank of Karachi for the observational study. Another group of 200 members was taken from different private banks of Karachi. Convenience, sampling technique was chosen for data collection by using self-administered Questionnaire. Data entry was done on SPSS Version 20. Mean is calculated by using One sample T-test and considered significant at p value <0.05. In addition, the frequencies and percentages were taken as descriptive statistics for categorical variables. RESULTS The workshop on ergonomics revealed statistically significant difference between the mean values 1.82, (p =0.00) and 1.95 (p=0.06) in the private and public sector bankers respectively. In addition, the means of back care were also calculated between the two sectors; showing higher mean values (1.83,) among the public sector bankers as compared to the private sector bankers (1.72, p=0.00). CONCLUSION` Our result shows that private sector bankers are more vigilant about their health and posture as compared to the public sector. The above result appears to be useful indicators of determining the risk of musculoskeletal problems among bankers.


Author(s):  
Syed Sharaf Ali Shah ◽  
Safdar Pasha ◽  
Nikhat Iftikar ◽  
Altaf Ahmed Soomro ◽  
Nazia Farrukh ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess the magnitude of the problem of injection safety in public and private health facilities in two districts of Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between October and December 2020 among public and private health facilities of two districts of Pakistan: Gujarat in Punjab and Larkana in Sindh provinces. A convenient sample size of 60 healthcare facilities (30 from each district) was taken due to time and resource constraint. Six data collection tools were used which included structured observations and interviews with injection prescribers and providers based on WHO Revised Tool C, which were finalised after piloting. Results: Reuse of injection equipment was not observed in any of the 60 health facilities. In exit interviews of 120 patients, it was found that 27 (22.5%) patients reported receiving an injection, while 11 (9.2%) were prescribed intravenous (IV) drips. More injections and drips were prescribed in the private sector (n=15; 25.0%) in comparison with the public sector (n=12; 20.0%). Slightly higher proportion of IV drips were prescribed by the private providers when compared to public sector healthcare providers: 6 (10.0%) vs 5 (8.3%) respectively. Most of the prescribers (n=58; 96.7%) reported that patients who attended public and private health facilities demanded injectable medicines. Used syringes and drips were noted to be visible in open containers and buckets for final disposal in 20 (33.3%) assessed health facilities. Continuou...


2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD AYAZ BHATTI ◽  
MAHMOOD UR RAHMAN

Objectives: To measure the current status of preventive activities in civil and military hospitals. To compare the quantum ofpreventive and curative activities in the hospitals. To make recommendations for promotion of preventive activities to reduce the curative burdenfrom the hospitals. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Sampling Technique: Universal sampling. All the major military and publicsector hospitals having bed strength more than 400 in Rawalpindi were included in the study. All the preventive and curative work was taken intoaccount. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was developed and data regarding the quantum of work was collected from all the fourmajor Military and civil hospitals having bed strength more than 400 beds through registers and annual reports of the hospital and was analyzedin the form of frequencies, tabulation, cross tabulation, percentages and was displayed in tables and graphs using SPSS (10.5), Microsoft Exceland calculus. Results: Only seven percent work is preventive and ninety three percent is curative. In the preventive activity MH is marginallyhigher than the rest of the hospitals. In all the hospitals among the preventive activities 31% are antenatal visits, 20 % tetanus toxoid injection,19% BCG, Growth monitoring 13%, Measles injection 11% and family planning 6% in all the hospitals. Ante natal activities in the army sectorhospitals are more prominent 39-44% and also in the public sector 17-26%. Next to the antenatal are tetanus toxoids to pregnant ladies whichrange from 16-35% in military and 16-20 % in the public sector hospitals. Growth monitoring is more efficiently carried out in the RawalpindiGeneral Hospital i.e. 17% while in others 7-12%. Family Planning services are delivered very poorly only 9% in RGH and 6% in DHQ, zero % inCMH and 5% in MH. Measles vaccination is carried out efficiently in DHQ 27%, 11% in RGH and 8% in MH and again poorly 3% in CMH. BCG is27% in DHQ, 20% in MH, 17% in RGH and 10% in CMH. Conclusions: The study show that hospitals are showing very poor performance inpreventive aspect and this is the reason that countries like Pakistan are facing economic burden on the national exchequer and this burden willkeep on increasing if no appropriate action is taken.


2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humberto Rosa ◽  
Marcelo Zubaran Goldani ◽  
Thomas Scanlon ◽  
Antônio Augusto Moura da Silva ◽  
Elsa Justo Giugliani ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV testing rate and determine risk factors for not have been tested during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from December 2000 to February 2001. Socioeconomic, maternal and healthcare variables were obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained in logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1,642 mothers were interviewed. Of them, 94.3% reported being offered HIV testing before or during pregnancy or during labor; 89 mothers (5.4%) were not tested or did not know if they were tested. Attending fewer than six prenatal visits, being single and younger than 18 years old were relevant barriers preventing HIV testing. There was found a relationship between maternal schooling and the category of prenatal care provider. Having low 22.20 (12.43-39.67) or high 3.38 (1.86-7.68). schooling and being cared in the private sector strongly reduced the likelihood of being HIV tested. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendation for universal counseling and HIV testing has been successfully implemented in the public sector. In order to improve HIV testing coverage, new strategies need to target women cared in the private sector especially those of low schooling.


Author(s):  
Swathi Karanth M.P ◽  
Somashekar M ◽  
Anushree Chakraborty ◽  
Swapna R ◽  
Akshata J.S ◽  
...  

Background: The shorter regimen was widely accepted and advocated for MDR-TB treatment compared tothe conventional longer regimen. Evaluating the performance of both regimens in a programmatic setting will help in tailoring the treatment regimen of MDR-TB. Objectives: 1. To estimate the duration of sputum smear conversion in the shorter MDR-TB regimen. 2. To compare the treatment outcomes of the shorter MDR-TB regimen with that of the longer conventional MDR regimen in a programmatic set up in India. 3. To estimate the adverse drug reactions in the shorter MDR-TB regimen. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 320 patients enrolled under programmatic management of drug resistant tuberculosis (PMDT) from April 2017 to May 2019 at a nodal DRTB center and a tertiary care hospital in India. Demographic and clinical characteristics of those who received a shorter MDR-TB regimen were recorded. Treatment outcomes of both regimens were recorded. Treatment success is defined as ‘disease cured and treatment completed’, whereas treatment failure was considered when the treatment was either terminated or changed due to lack of bacteriological conversion at the end of an extended intensive phase or culture reversion in the continuation phase. Results: The treatment success observed in the shorter MDR-TB regimen was 61.25%, which was significantly higher than the conventional longer regimen (p=0.0007). Treatment failures were higher with a shorter MDR-TB regimen (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Treatment success with the shorter MDR-TB regimen though higher than the conventional regimen, is still way behind the target treatment success rate. Improving treatment adherence remains pivotal for achieving end TB targets.


Criminal justice used to be thought of as a field autonomous from politics and the economy, with the management of crime and punishment being seen as essentially the responsibility of government. However, in recent decades, policies have been adopted which blur the institutional boundaries and functions of the public sector with those of for-profit and civil society interests in many parts of the penal/welfare complex. The impact of these developments on society is contested: Proponents of the ‘neo-liberal penality thesis’ argue economic deregulation, welfare retrenchment, individualised choices – and associated responsibility – may be aligned by market forces into efficient delivery of ‘law and order’. Set against the neo-liberal penal position are arguments that the corporate sector may be no more efficient in delivering criminal justice services than is the public sector, and reliance on the profit motive to deliver criminal justice may lead to perverse incentivisation of NGOs or state agencies. It is to this debate we add our contribution. Criminal justice is an ideal sector in which to consider the implications arising from the differing incentive structures held by different institutions, both private and public, citizens, governments, social enterprise and the corporate sector. All agree on the need for criminal justice, even as they compete in the policy sphere to dictate its form and delivery.


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