scholarly journals Primary health care facilities capacity gaps regarding diagnosis, treatment and knowledge of schistosomiasis among healthcare workers in North-western Tanzania: a call to strengthen the horizontal system

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Humphrey Deogratias Mazigo ◽  
Cecilia Uisso ◽  
Paul Kazyoba ◽  
Upendo J. Mwingira
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Primary Health Care System ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
North Western ◽  
Western Tanzania ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for schistosomiasis endemic countries to integrate schistosomiasis control measures into the primary health care (PHC) services; however, in Tanzania, little is known about the capacity of the primary health care system to assume this role. The objective of this study was to assess the capacity of the primary health care system to diagnose and treat schistosomiasis in endemic regions of north-western Tanzania. Methods A total of 80 randomly-selected primary health care facilities located in the Uyui, Geita and Ukerewe districts of North-western Tanzania participated in the study. At each facility, the in-charge clinician, or any other healthcare worker appointed by the in-charge clinician, participated in the questionnaire survey. A quantitative questionnaire installed in a Data Tool Kit software was used to collect data. Healthcare workers working at various stations (laboratory, pharmacy, data clerks, outpatient section) were interviewed. The questionnaire collected information related to healthcare workers’ knowledge about urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis symptoms, human and material resources, laboratory services, data capture, and anti-schistosomiasis treatment availability. Results A total of 80 healthcare workers were interviewed. Bloody stool (78.3 %) and haematuria (98.7 %) were the most common symptoms of intestinal and urogenital schistosomiasis mentioned by healthcare workers. Knowledge on the chronic symptoms such as hepatosplenomegaly and hematemesis for intestinal schistosomiasis, and oliguria and dysuria for urogenital schistosomiasis, were inadequate. Laboratory services were only available in 33.8 % (27/80) of the health facilities and direct wet preparation was the most common diagnostic technique used for both urine and stool samples. All healthcare workers knew that praziquantel was the drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis and the drug was available in 91.3 % (73/80) of the health facilities. Conclusions The capacity of the primary health care facilities included in the current study is inadequate in terms of diagnosis, treatment, reporting and healthcare workers’ knowledge of schistosomiasis. Thus, the integration of schistosomiasis control activities into the primary healthcare system requires these gaps to be addressed.

scholarly journals Assessment of Availability of Human Resource and Services for Newborn Care in Primary Health Care Facilities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

10.46912/57 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
BO Toma ◽  
AOD Ofakunrin ◽  
UM Diala ◽  
P Kanhu ◽  
F Baba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Health Extension Workers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Immediate Newborn Care ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

Background: The majority of neonatal deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Availability of qualified human resources along with maternal and child health services are essential to curb these deaths. The study objective was to determine the availability of human resources and services for newborn care in Primary Health Care facilities in Jos North Local Government Area. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Primary Health Care facilities offering immediate newborn care. A stratified sampling technique was used to select 67 and 60 healthcare workers in 30 public and 30 private facilities respectively. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Results: The majority, 85(66.9%) of the healthcare workers were Community Health Extension Workers. There were 16(12.6%) midwives and 1(0.8%) medical doctors. In-service training on newborn care had been received by 69(54.3%) respondents, while 22(17.3%) respondents had received training on essential newborn care. Only twenty (33.3%) facilities discharge mother and newborn 24 hours after normal delivery. Postnatal services provided included early initiation of breastfeeding by 116(91.3%) respondents. Preventive services included chlorhexidine cord care given by 86(67.7%) respondents while 27(21.3%) and 26(20.5%) gave erythromycin/ tetracycline eye prophylaxis and vitamin k1 respectively. Conclusion: Community Health Extension Workers were the major human resource for immediate newborn care; further research to determine their knowledge and skills are needed. The preventive neonatal services were few. More preventive care and 24-hour postnatal care are advocated as strategies to improve newborn outcomes.

scholarly journals A retrospective audit of antibiotic prescriptions in primary health-care facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Anne Ahiabu ◽  
Britt P Tersbøl ◽  
Richard Biritwum ◽  
Ib C Bygbjerg ◽  
Pascal Magnussen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

scholarly journals A National Accessibility Audit of Primary Health Care Facilities in Brazil—Are People with Disabilities Being Denied Their Right to Health?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2953
Author(s):  
Alexandro Pinto ◽  
Luciana Sepúlveda Köpcke ◽  
Renata David ◽  
Hannah Kuper
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Internal Space ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

Poor accessibility of healthcare facilities is a major barrier for people with disabilities when seeking care. Yet, accessibility is rarely routinely audited. This study reports findings from the first national assessment of the accessibility of primary health care facilities, undertaken in Brazil. A national accessibility audit was conducted by trained staff of all 38,812 primary healthcare facilities in Brazil in 2012, using a 22-item structured questionnaire. An overall accessibility score was created (22 items), and three sub-scales: external accessibility (eight items), internal accessibility (eight items), information accessibility (six items). The main finding is that the overall accessibility score of primary care facilities in Brazil was low (mean of 22, standard deviation (SD) of 0.21, on a 0–100 scale). Accessibility of different aspects of the healthcare facilities was also low, including external space (mean = 31.0, SD = 2.0), internal space (18.9, 1.9) and accessibility features for people with other visual or hearing impairments (6.3, SD = 1.0). Scores were consistently better in the least poor regions of Brazil and in facilities in larger municipality size (indicating more urban areas). In conclusion, large-scale accessibility audits are feasible to undertake. Poor accessibility means that people with disabilities will experience difficulties in accessing healthcare, and this is a violation of their rights according to international and Brazilian laws.

Childhood Mental Disorders in Primary Health Care: Results of Observations in Four Developing Countries

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-683
Author(s):  
R. Giel ◽  
M. V. de Arango ◽  
C. E. Climent ◽  
T. W. Harding ◽  
H. H. A. Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Research Procedure ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

To ascertain the frequency of mental disorders in Sudan, Philippines, India, and Colombia, 925 children attending primary health care facilities were studied. Rates of between 12% and 29% were found in the four study areas. The range of mental disorders diagnosed was similar to that encountered in industrialized countries. The research procedure involved a two-stage screening in which a ten-item "reporting questionnaire" constituted the first stage. The study has shown that mental disorders are common among children attending primary health care facilities in four developing countries and that accompanying adults (usually the mothers) readily recognize and report common psychologic and behavioral symptoms when these are solicited by means of a simple set of questions. Despite this, the primary health workers themselves recognized only between 10% and 22% of the cases of mental disorder. The results have been used to design appropriate brief training courses in childhood mental disorders for primary health workers in the countries participating in the study.

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