Skills Gap among Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Professionals in Cameroon

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Nkwenti ◽  
Ishan Sudeera Abeywardena
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Skills Gap ◽  
North West ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Reproductive Healthcare

Over the last 10 years, the state of sexual and reproductive health in Cameroon has been challenging with rising levels of sexually transmitted diseases, the high fertility rate, and high infant and maternal mortality rates. Some researchers attributed these challenges to the limited number and quality of sexual and reproductive health personnel working in health facilities across the country. The North West Region of Cameroon was taken as a unit of study to probe into the skills gap among sexual and reproductive health practitioners. A total of n = 302 participants at a confidence interval of 95 per cent were selected using a stratified random sampling technique to take part in the study. The results indicated that a good number of them have no prior experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health. On the other hand, most of the practitioners’ skills level is situated between intermediate and competent with very few of them being at the expert skills level. It was therefore recommended that most of the participants needs improvement in (i) computer or information technology skills; (ii) research skills; and (iii) leadership development of the specialty. These areas need to be dealt with, as a matter of priority, through training and professional development to enable these professionals to deliver better service in the sexual and reproductive healthcare sector. It was also recommended that, in line with the critical role that sexual and reproductive health practitioners play in Cameroon’s health system, the Ministry of Public Health and other role players in the health sector make sufficient investments in the improvement of the health workforce’s accessibility to information and communication technology.

scholarly journals The health response to the Rohingya refugee crisis post August 2017: Reflections from two years of health sector coordination in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253013
Author(s):  
Rosanna Jeffries ◽  
Hassan Abdi ◽  
Mohammad Ali ◽  
Abu Toha Md Rezuanul Haque Bhuiyan ◽  
Mohamed El Shazly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Working Groups

On August 25 2017, an unprecedented influx of Rohingya refugees began from Rakhine State in Myanmar into Bangladesh’s district of Cox’s Bazar. The scale and acuteness of this humanitarian crisis was unprecedented and unique globally, requiring strong coordination of a multitude of actors. This paper reflects on the health sector coordination from August 2017 to October 2019, focusing on selected achievements and persisting challenges of the health sector strategic advisory group (HSSAG), and the health sector working groups including epidemiology and case management, sexual and reproductive health, community health, mental health and psychosocial support, and emergency preparedness. In the early days of the response, minimum service standards for primary health care were established, a fundamental initial step which enabled the standardization of services based on critical needs. Similarly, establishing standards for community health outreach was the backbone for capitalizing on this important health workforce. Novel approaches were adopted for infectious disease responses for acute watery diarrhoea and varicella, drawing on inter-sectoral collaborations. Sexual and reproductive health services were prioritized from the initial onset of the crisis and improvements in skilled delivery attendance, gender-based violence services, abortion care and family planning were recorded. Mental health service provision was strengthened through community-based approaches although integration of mental health programmes into primary health care has been limited by availability of specialist psychiatrists. Strong, collaborative and legitimate leadership by the health sector strategic advisory group, drawing on inter-sectoral collaborations and the technical expertise of the different technical working groups, were critical in the response and proved effective, despite the remaining challenges to be addressed. Anticipated reductions in funding as the crisis moves into protracted status threatens the achievements of the health sector in provision of health services to the Rohingya refugees.

scholarly journals Finnish Official Development Aid for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa

2010 ◽  
pp. 143-170
Author(s):  
Riikka Shemeikka
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Development Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Hiv Aids

Finland is one of the donor countries that is most supportive in family planning (FP), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender issues. This study examines Finnish ODA for FP and SRHR: its decision-making structure, other stakeholders and funding levels. Data consists of documents from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) and interviews conducted at the MFA and with other experts. While Parliament decides on the overall level of ODA funding, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development has considerable autonomy. Other stakeholders such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development and the Family Federation of Finland (Vestliitto) engage in advocacy work and have influenced development policy. Although the Development Policy 2007 mentions the importance of health and SRHR issues and HIV/AIDS is a cross-cutting issue, interviewees stated that the importance of health and SRHR in ODA has declined and that the implementation of cross-cutting issues is challenging. Multilateral funding for UNFPA, UNAIDS and GFATM, and thus the proportion of SRHR funding within the health sector, is however currently rising. Funding for population-related activities has increased and represented 4.8% of Finlands total ODA in 2009. Almost all of this funding is directed towards basic reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues and the majority is directed through multilateral channels (78% in 2009), mainly UNFPA and UNAIDS. IPPF, Ipas and Marie Stopes International also receive support.

scholarly journals Health and education provider collaboration to deliver adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Sri Lanka

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela J Dawson ◽  
Kumuda Wijewardena ◽  
Ellie Black
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
And Training

The complex nature of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) determinants demands a multidisciplinary and intersectoral approach. Collaborative approaches are central to the delivery of quality health care and services but the focus is often health sector specific. Few research studies have explored the views and experiences of health workers and teachers and examined how ASRH services and information are provided by professionals across the education and health sector. Sri Lanka has made considerable progress towards addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), however, there are still gaps reflected in adolescent health, social indicators, and the delivery of services. Enhancing the collective efforts of teachers and health professionals may help to improve the quality and use of services and ASRH knowledge. This study aimed to identify the experiences, needs, knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary healthcare and education professionals and the strategies that best support them to deliver sexual and reproductive health information, education, counseling and clinical services to Sri Lankan adolescents. Qualitative and survey data were gathered from 65 nurses, midwives, public health inspectors, medical officers, teachers, counselors and principals in the district of Kalutara. Knowledge, attitudes and service gaps were identified in relation to contraception and policy guiding practice. Participants highlighted concerns with confidence, roles and training that were said to affect student access to appropriate health services. ASRH Collaborative practices were noted across the sectors and strategies suggested for improvement. Findings suggest that inter-professional educa-tion and training may provide opportunities to enhance collaboration supported and guided by appropriate policy, supervision and job descriptions (i.e. roles and responsibilities). South East Asia Journal of Public Health 2013; 3(1): 42-49 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v3i1.17710

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