scholarly journals Staffing rural hospitals through Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) in South Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganzamungu Zihindula ◽  
Richard Gavin MacGregor ◽  
Andrew John Ross
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Abstract Despite the governments ‘healthcare for all’ focus since the country’s first democratic election in 1994, many rural district hospitals in South Africa have struggled to find and retain adequate staffing levels in order to be able to deliver on the District hospital package of services. Many of these hospitals have relied on non-profit organisations and other privately owned institutions to assist them in improving their staffing levels and service delivery. Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF), a NPO’s started in 1999 at one rural hospital in the Province KwaZulu-Natal, provides funding to youth from rural areas to study a health science degrees with the understanding that they will return to serve at their rural-based hospitals. This review describes the role that UYDF has played in assisting rural-based hospitals with recruiting and retaining staff, the relationship between UYDF and hospitals, the ‘UYDF’ model, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented through the partnership between UYDF and rural district hospitals. It aims to inform and contribute to health policy initiatives that can help rural-based hospitals to recruit, attract and retain staff. Using a case study research design, existing data was used to present a detailed descriptive analysis of the UYDF health education and employment model. The results from this research paper suggest that the model provides a solution which can address the problem of hospital staffing, and that if challenges are managed, other rural-based hospitals in the country could benefit from the model.

scholarly journals Investigating competencies needed by European-trained doctors in rural South African hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Barnacle ◽  
Oliver Johnson ◽  
Ian Couper
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Rural Medicine ◽  
Rural South ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Postgraduate Diploma

Background: Many European-trained doctors (ETDs) recruited to work in rural district hospitals in South Africa have insufficient generalist competencies for the range of practice required. Africa Health Placements recruits ETDs to work in rural hospitals in Africa. Many of these doctors feel inadequately prepared. The Stellenbosch University Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health is launching a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Medicine to help prepare doctors for such work.Aim: To determine the competencies gap for ETDs working in rural district hospitals in South Africa to inform the curriculum of the PG Dip (Rural Medicine).Setting: Rural district hospitals in South Africa.Methods: Nine hospitals in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga were purposefully selected by Africa Health Placements as receiving ETDs. An online survey was developed asking about the most important competencies and weaknesses for ETDs when working rurally. The clinical manager and any ETDs currently working in each hospital were invited to complete the survey.Results: Surveys were completed by 19 ETDs and five clinical managers. The top clinical competencies in relation to 10 specific domains were identified. The results also indicate broader competencies required, specific skills gaps, the strengths that ETDs bring to South Africa and how ETDs prepare themselves for working in this context.Conclusion: This study identifies the important competency gaps among ETDs and provides useful direction for the diploma and other future training initiatives. The diploma faculty must reflect on these findings and ensure the curriculum is aligned with these gaps.

scholarly journals Postgraduate training for family medicine in a rural district hospital in South Africa: Appropriateness and sufficiency of theatre procedures as a sentinel indicator

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawie Du Plessis ◽  
Paul Alfred Kapp ◽  
Louis S. Jenkins ◽  
Laurel Giddy
Keyword(s):  
Family Medicine ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Postgraduate Training ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Procedural Skills ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
National Unit ◽  
Unit Standards

Background: Since 2007, the postgraduate training of family physicians for South African district hospitals has been formalised. This training differs from European and North American programmes as up to 30% of the skills needed rely on district hospital surgical, obstetrics and anaesthetics procedures, particularly in rural areas, as outlined in the national unit standards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness and sufficiency of learning opportunities for these skills in a rural district hospital.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken of the number and type of procedures performed in theatre for a 1-year period and compared with the required procedural skills stipulated in the national unit standards. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to analyse categorical data.Results: Three thousand seven hundred and forty-one procedures were performed during the study period. Anaesthesia was the most common procedure, followed by Caesarean section. There were adequate opportunities for teaching most core skills.Conclusions: Sufficient and appropriate learning opportunities exist for postgraduate family medicine training in all the core skills performed in a theatre according to the national unit standards.Keywords: Post Graduate Training, Family Medicine, Procedural Skills, Rural, District hospitals

scholarly journals Examining the Availability and Accessibility of Rehabilitation Services in a Rural District of South Africa: A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4692
Author(s):  
Qhayiya Magaqa ◽  
Proochista Ariana ◽  
Sarah Polack
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Rehabilitation Service ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Service Capacity ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
District Hospitals

Introduction: Rehabilitation services aim to optimise individuals’ functioning and reduce disability. However, people with disabilities, who represent a key population of users of rehabilitation services, continue to have unmet needs for rehabilitation services that include the provision of assistive devices. This paper examines the availability and accessibility of rehabilitation services in a rural district of South Africa in order to explore why unmet needs for rehabilitation services persist. Methods: All nine district hospitals in a rural district of South Africa were included in the study. Rehabilitation services capacity was assessed by examining the available assistive devices, consumables and human resources at the level of the health facility. Data collection was conducted using the Global Co-operative Assistive Technology [GATE] Assistive Products List, AT2030’s ATScale priority list and the South African National Catalogue of Commodities for Primary Health Care Facilities. Descriptive statistics were then used for the analysis. For the qualitative component, semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults with physical disabilities at household level to explore barriers to accessing assistive device inclusive rehabilitation services and the consequences thereof in the same rural district. An interview guide based on the WHO health system building blocks was used. Thematic content analysis guided the analysis of the interview transcripts. Findings: The findings of the research demonstrate that rehabilitation service capacity in the district was constrained as a result of low availability of assistive devices [2–22%] and consumables [2–47%], as well as, possibly, a shortage of rehabilitation providers [n = 30] with an unequal distribution across health facilities [n = 9]. In addition, people with physical disabilities reported poor referral pathways, financial constraints, transport and road consideration and equipment unavailability as barriers to accessing rehabilitation services. Moreover, these barriers to access predisposed individuals to finance-, health- and person-related harm. Conclusion: Rehabilitation service availability is constrained by a lack of service capacity in rural South Africa. In addition, the rehabilitation services in district hospitals are not adequately accessible because of existing barriers to enable key populations to achieve optimised functioning.

A Programme to improve health services in rural South Africa: Perceptions from participating hospital managers, health science students and graduates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dumsani Mandla Gumede ◽  
Myra Taylor ◽  
Jane D. Kvalsvig
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Rural South Africa

Abstract Background: The shortage of HCPs negatively affects health services in rural areas in many parts of the world, as is the case in South Africa. A NPO, the UYDF, initiated a programme designed to improve the health system in a rural area. It consisted of a scholarship and mentorship programme in 1999 for youth from the area to study for health science degrees on condition that they would take up a post at the hospital in their community once qualified.Aims: This paper reports the perceptions and experiences of the students and graduates sponsored by the foundation, and those of managers from the facilities where the students were ultimately placed, in order to gauge whether such a programme can make a sustainable contribution to address the shortage of health personnel in rural areas and to what extent this is happening.Methods: The study used qualitative methods. Students and senior health managers were interviewed using a semi-structured in-depth format, and graduates took part in focus group discussions at three hospitals, in different districts. The data were analyzed thematically.Results: The students interviewed appreciated the financial and socio-emotional support that they received, and the graduates were appreciative that posts awaited them in their home community on completion of their studies. The managers reported the success of the programme in increasing the number of healthcare personnel at the hospitals, and the range of available medical services. Since the graduates are familiar with the language and culture of their patients the managers considered that they are better able to assist them.Conclusion: The system was well thought-out and achieved its goal of improving health services in an underdeveloped rural area of South Africa. More could be achieved if other government services in the area were simultaneously improved and if the system were replicated elsewhere.

scholarly journals Leadership and the functioning of maternal health services in two rural district hospitals in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. ii5-ii15 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Mathole ◽  
M Lembani ◽  
D Jackson ◽  
C Zarowsky ◽  
L Bijlmakers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Maternal Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Maternal Health Services ◽  
Rural District ◽  
District Hospitals

scholarly journals Trends in practice intentions and preferences of clinical associate students: Implications for training and health services in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saiendhra V. Moodley ◽  
Jacqueline E. Wolvaardt ◽  
Jakobus M. Louw ◽  
Jannie Hugo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Health Need

Background: The University of Pretoria (UP) had its first intake of Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP) students in 2009. The objectives of this study were to examine the trends in geographical practice intentions and preferences of the first nine cohorts of BCMP students. We also assessed sector and level of care preferences of six BCMP cohorts.Methods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted 2011, 2014 and 2017. First-, second- and third-year UP BCMP students were invited to complete a electronic questionnaire. Our analyses consisted of calculating proportions for the practice intentions and preferences for each surveys, and performing multiple logistic regression on the aggregated date to determine their associations with sociodemographic and training characteristics.Results: The proportion of participants intending to practise as a clinical associate in a rural area in South Africa directly after graduating was 62.5% in the 2014 survey and 69.7% in the 2017 survey, compared to 59.6% in the 2011 survey. The majority in all three surveys (53.4% in 2011, 56.6% in 2014 and 59.8% in 2017) indicated a preference for rural practice. Both rural practice intention and rural practice preference were found to be significantly associated with respondent’s self-description of having lived most of her/his life in a rural area, and rural district hospital exposure during training. In 2014 and 2017, approximately two-thirds of the participants selected a public sector option as their most preferred work setting. District hospitals were the most preferred setting of 30.3% participants in 2014 and 32.0% in 2017.Conclusion: Most participants across the three surveys intended to work in rural settings. Considering that this could provide a sustainable solution to the shortage of health care workforce in rural areas, policy makers in both higher education and health need to promote and ensure the viability of the training of this category of health care providers.

scholarly journals What keeps health professionals working in rural district hospitals in South Africa?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis S. Jenkins ◽  
Colette Gunst ◽  
Julia Blitz ◽  
Johan F. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Nominal Group Technique ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Health Practitioners

Background: The theme of the 2014 Southern African Rural Health Conference was ‘Building resilience in facing rural realities’. Retaining health professionals in South Africa is critical for sustainable health services. Only 12% of doctors and 19% of nurses have been retained in the rural areas. The aim of the workshop was to understand from health practitioners why they continued working in their rural settings.Conference workshop: The workshop consisted of 29 doctors, managers, academic family physicians, nurses and clinical associates from Southern Africa, with work experience from three weeks to 13 years, often in deep rural districts. Using the nominal group technique, the following question was explored, ‘What is it that keeps you going to work every day?’ Participants reflected on their work situation and listed and rated the important reasons for continuing to work.Results: Five main themes emerged. A shared purpose, emanating from a deep sense of meaning, was the strongest reason for staying and working in a rural setting. Working in a team was second most important, with teamwork being related to attitudes and relationships, support from visiting specialists and opportunities to implement individual clinical skills. A culture of support was third, followed by opportunities for growth and continuing professional development, including teaching by outreaching specialists. The fifth theme was a healthy work-life balance.Conclusion: Health practitioners continue to work in rural settings for often deeper reasons relating to a sense of meaning, being part of a team that closely relate to each other and feeling supported.

scholarly journals Engaging future healthcare professionals for rural health services in South Africa: students, graduates and managers perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dumsani M. Gumede ◽  
Myra Taylor ◽  
Jane D. Kvalsvig
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Need Support ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background The shortage of healthcare professionals (HCP) negatively affects health services in rural areas in many parts of the world, as is the case in South Africa. Innovative programs designed to improve the recruitment strategies for health system in a rural area are essential. They need support with a scholarship and mentorship programme for young people from rural areas to study for health science degrees, with the aim that they would take up a post at the hospital in their community, once qualified. This paper reports the perceptions and experiences of the students and graduates sponsored by the foundation, and those of managers from the facilities where the students were ultimately placed, in order to gauge whether such a programme can make a sustainable contribution to address the shortage of health personnel in rural areas and to what extent this is happening. Methods The authors used qualitative methods, combining semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups and the data were analyzed thematically. Results The results provide information on students interviewed who appreciated the financial and socio-emotional support that they received. On the other hand, graduates value the availability of jobs in their home community on completion of their studies. The managers reported the success of the programme in increasing the number of healthcare personnel at the hospitals, and the increased range of available medical services. Since the graduates are familiar with the language and culture of their patients the managers considered that they are better able to assist them. Conclusions The system was well thought-out and achieved its goal of improving health services in an underdeveloped rural area of South Africa. More could be achieved if other government services in the area were simultaneously improved and if the system were replicated elsewhere. The students and graduates from rural areas are involved on sustaining health services in rural areas while rural managers support the programme and make suggestions for improvement and to promote the program in other regions.

Service Provision Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Areas

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Hastings ◽  
Tracy J. Cohn ◽  
E. Janie Pinterits
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

A PROPOSED EVALUATION PLAN TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FACILITATED BY THE STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY (SITA) IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-181
Author(s):  
Maura Mbunyuza-deHeer Menlah
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
The State ◽  
State Information ◽  
Evaluation Plan ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
The Impact

This article reports on a proposed evaluation plan that has been developed to assess the work done by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The SITA programme was implemented in response to the South African government’s call to improve the lives of the populations in some rural areas through technology. The programme was meant to address slow development in  rural  areas  that  lack  technological  innovations  and  advances.  In  the proposed evaluation plan a review is made of secondary data, deciding how strategic priorities are to be determined, as well as analysis of the rural context environment. The researcher gives an account of how the evaluation strategies are to be piloted and rolled out thereafter. Lessons learnt are recorded and reported upon. A proposed evaluation plan will be developed, based on the lessons learnt in line with the objectives of the project.

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