scholarly journals Assesssment of Health Facilities for Implementation of Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease in Nepal: Baseline Study in Kailali and Ilam District

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binod Kumar Aryal ◽  
Mohammad Daud ◽  
Ambika Thapa ◽  
Anita Mahotra ◽  
Sudip Ale Magar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Baseline Study ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Background: Non-communicable Diseases are an alarming public health emergency in Nepal. Owing to the risk of NCD’s in Nepal, Government of Nepal has developed a Multisectoral Action Plan for Non-communicable Disease 2014-2020 and has adopted the World Health Organization Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease protocol. Prior for its implementation in Nepal, baseline study has been carried out to assess the status of health facilities in Nepal.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Kailali and Ilam district encompassing a total of 92 health facilities. A set of structured questionnaire and interview guideline was used to obtain the data. Collected data was transferred to Microsoft Excel, cleaned and analyzed in SPSS 16.0. Descriptive analysis was performed to express the frequencies and relative frequencies Results: Of the total health facilities, 49 and 43 health facilities of Ilam and Kailali were interviewed. The hospital of Ilam consisted all the procedure, equipment and medicine for the management of NCDs whilst, health posts lacked Oxygen services. Only 592 posts were fulfilled out of 704 sanctioned post in both the districts of which only 161 were trained in management of NCDs. Atotal of 231 patients were diagnosed with NCDs before the day of study in all the health facilities of both districts. Conclusions: Study reveals the gaps in capacity of health institution and system in terms of training, supply, equipments, and diagnostics. However, training of health workers, supply of essential medicines and improvising the service delivery would supplement the effective implementation of PEN in Nepal.

scholarly journals Essential Medicines at the National Level: The Global Asthma Network’s Essential Asthma Medicines Survey 2014

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bissell ◽  
Philippa Ellwood ◽  
Eamon Ellwood ◽  
Chen-Yuan Chiang ◽  
Guy Marks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
National Level ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Poor Access

Patients with asthma need uninterrupted supplies of affordable, quality-assured essential medicines. However, access in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Global Action Plan 2013–2020 sets an 80% target for essential NCD medicines’ availability. Poor access is partly due to medicines not being included on the national Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and/or National Reimbursement Lists (NRL) which guide the provision of free/subsidised medicines. We aimed to determine how many countries have essential asthma medicines on their EML and NRL, which essential asthma medicines, and whether surveys might monitor progress. A cross-sectional survey in 2013–2015 of Global Asthma Network principal investigators generated 111/120 (93%) responses—41 high-income countries and territories (HICs); 70 LMICs. Patients in HICs with NRL are best served (91% HICs included ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) and salbutamol). Patients in the 24 (34%) LMICs with no NRL and the 14 (30%) LMICs with an NRL, however no ICS are likely to have very poor access to affordable, quality-assured ICS. Many LMICs do not have essential asthma medicines on their EML or NRL. Technical guidance and advocacy for policy change is required. Improving access to these medicines will improve the health system’s capacity to address NCDs.

scholarly journals Assessing service availability and readiness to manage Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) in Bangladesh

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247700
Author(s):  
Progga Paromita ◽  
Hasina Akhter Chowdhury ◽  
Cinderella Akbar Mayaboti ◽  
Shagoofa Rakhshanda ◽  
A. K. M. Fazlur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Service Availability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
The Mean

Introduction Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) are some of the most prevailing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide and cause three times higher morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) than in developed nations. In Bangladesh, there is a dearth of data about the quality of CRD management in health facilities. This study aims to describe CRD service availability and readiness at all tiers of health facilities using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018 in a total of 262 health facilities in Bangladesh using the WHO SARA Standard Tool. Surveys were conducted with facility management personnel by trained data collectors using REDCap software. Descriptive statistics for the availability of CRD services were calculated. Composite scores for facility readiness (Readiness Index ‘RI’) were created which included four domains: staff and guideline, basic equipment, diagnostic capacity, and essential medicines. RI was calculated for each domain as the mean score of items expressed as a percentage. Indices were compared to a cutoff of70% which means that a facility index above 70% is considered ‘ready’ to manage CRDs at that level. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Vr 21.0. Results It was found, tertiary hospitals were the only hospitals that surpassed the readiness index cutoff of 70%, indicating that they had adequate capacity and were ready to manage CRDs (RI 78.3%). The mean readiness scores for the other hospital tiers in descending order were District Hospitals (DH): 40.6%, Upazila Health Complexes (UHC): 33.3% and Private NGOs: 39.5%). Conclusion Only tertiary care hospitals, constituting 3.1% of sampled health facilities, were found ready to manage CRD. Inadequate and unequal supplies of medicine as well as a lack of trained staff, guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of CRDs, equipment, and diagnostic facilities contributed to low readiness index scores in all other tiers of health facilities.

scholarly journals Missed Opportunities in Tuberculosis Investigation and Associated Factors at Public Health Facilities in Uganda 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Kakame ◽  
Noel Namuhani ◽  
Andrew Kazibwe ◽  
Felix Bongomin ◽  
Joseph Baluku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Prevalence Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Public Health Facilities ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract BackgroundThe incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high in Uganda; yet, TB case detection is low. A recent national TB prevalence survey revealed that only 16% of presumptive TB patients seeking care at health facilities were offered sputum microscopy or chest-X ray (CXR). The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of, and patient factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation at public health facilities of Wakiso District in Uganda.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at 10 high volume public health facilities offering comprehensive TB services in Wakiso, Uganda, among adults (≥18 years) with at least one symptom suggestive of TB predefined according to World Health Organisation criteria. Using exit interviews, data on demographics, TB symptoms, and clinical data relevant to TB were collected. A missed opportunity in TB investigation was defined as a patient with symptoms suggestive of TB who did not have sputum and/or CXR evaluation to rule out TB. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation using STATA 14.ResultsTwo hundred forty seven presumptive TB patients were recruited into this study exiting at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics (n=132) or general outpatient clinics (n=115) at public health facilities. Majority of participants were females (161/247, 65.2%) and the mean +SD age was 35.1 + 11.5 years. Sputum and/or CXR were not requested from 138 (55.9%) patients with symptoms suggestive of TB disease. Patients who did not inform health workers about TB related symptoms were more likely to miss a TB investigation (adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.68, 95%CI; 1.36-2.08, P<0.001). Conclusion; A large proportion of patients with symptoms suggestive of TB did not have sputum and/ or CXR requested for investigation. Patients who did not inform health workers about their TB related symptoms were more likely to miss having sputum and/ or CXR requested. We recommend studies to explore barriers and facilitators of disclosure of TB symptoms to enable formulation of effective interventions to empower people to improve likelihood of disclosing TB related symptoms.

scholarly journals Missed opportunities in tuberculosis investigation and associated factors at public health facilities in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Twirire Kakame ◽  
Noel Namuhani ◽  
Andrew Kazibwe ◽  
Felix Bongomin ◽  
Joseph Baruch Baluku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Public Health Facilities ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high in Uganda; yet, TB case detection is low. The population-based survey on the prevalence of TB in Uganda revealed that only 16% of presumptive TB patients seeking care at health facilities were offered sputum microscopy or chest-X ray (CXR). This study aimed to determine the magnitude of, and patient factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation at public health facilities of Wakiso District in Uganda. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at 10 high volume public health facilities offering comprehensive TB services in Wakiso, Uganda, among adults (≥18 years) with at least one symptom suggestive of TB predefined according to the World Health Organisation criteria. Using exit interviews, data on demographics, TB symptoms, and clinical data relevant to TB diagnosis were collected. A missed opportunity in TB investigation was defined as a patient with symptoms suggestive of TB who did not have sputum and/or CXR evaluation to rule out TB. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation. Results Two hundred forty-seven (247) patients with presumptive TB exiting at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics (n = 132) or general outpatient clinics (n = 115) at public health facilities were recruited into this study. Majority of participants were female (161/247, 65.2%) with a mean + SD age of 35.1 + 11.5 years. Overall, 138 (55.9%) patients with symptoms suggestive of TB disease did not have sputum and/or CXR examinations. Patients who did not inform health workers about their TB related symptoms were more likely to miss a TB investigation (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 1.68, 95%CI; 1.36–2.08, P < 0.001). However, patients who reported duration of cough of 2 weeks or more were less likely to be missed for TB screening (aPR; 0.69, 95%CI; 0.56–0.86, p < 0.001). Conclusion There are substantial missed opportunities for TB diagnosis in Wakiso District. While it is important that patients should be empowered to report symptoms, health workers need to proactively implement the WHO TB symptom screen tool and complete the subsequent steps in the TB diagnostic cascade.

Evaluation and monitoring

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Rayner ◽  
Kremlin Wickramasinghe ◽  
Julianne Williams ◽  
Karen McColl ◽  
Shanthi Mendis
Keyword(s):  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Evaluation And Monitoring ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

This chapter explains why evaluating and monitoring non-communicable disease (NCD) policies or programmes is an essential part of the process of addressing NCDs. After defining these terms, this chapter reviews the three main types of evaluation: formative evaluation, process evaluation, and outcome evaluation. The chapter walks through the process of formulating an evaluation plan, discusses the challenge of identifying reliable and valid measures, and provides a checklist of issues to consider in choosing measures. It identifies important concepts to take into account when designing an evaluation for NCD prevention, such as the Hawthorne effect and the ceiling effect. Additionally, it provides several case studies which illustrate the diverse range of methods which can be employed to evaluate and monitor NCD initiatives. The chapter illustrates one possible model for NCD monitoring and provides the monitoring framework which the World Health Organization uses to monitor progress on the Global NCD Action Plan.

Implementing Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Interventions in the Republic of Moldova—a feasibility study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1146-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiina Laatikainen ◽  
Laura Inglin ◽  
Dylan Collins ◽  
Angela Ciobanu ◽  
Ghenadie Curocichin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Republic Of Moldova ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The Republic ◽  
And Control ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of implementing and evaluating the World Health Organization Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN) approach in primary healthcare in the Republic of Moldova. Methods According to our published a priori methods, 20 primary care clinics were randomized to 10 intervention and 10 control clinics. The intervention consisted of implementation of adapted WHO PEN guidelines and structured training for health workers; the control clinics continued with usual care. Data were gathered from paper-based patient records in July 2017 and August 2018 resulting in a total of 1174 and 995 patients in intervention and control clinics at baseline and 1329 and 1256 at follow-up. Pre-defined indicators describing assessment of risk factors and total cardiovascular risk, prescribing medications and treatment outcomes were calculated. Differences between baseline and follow-up as well as between intervention and control clinics were calculated using logistic and linear regression models and by assessing interaction effects. Results Improvements were seen in recording smoking status, activity to measure HbA1c among diabetes patients and achieving control in hypertension treatment. Improvement was also seen in identification of patients with hypertension or diabetes. Less improvement or even deterioration was seen in assessing total risk or prescribing statins for high-risk patients. Conclusions It is feasible to evaluate the quality and management of patients with non-communicable diseases in low-resource settings from routine data. Modest improvements in risk factor identification and management can be achieved in a relatively short period of time.

scholarly journals A Study on Service Availability and Readiness Assessment of Non-Communicable Diseases Using the WHO Tool for Gazipur District in Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Rashemdul Islam ◽  
Shamima Parvin Laskar ◽  
Darryl Macer
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Service Availability ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Service Readiness

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) disproportionately affect low and middle-income countries where nearly three quarters of NCD deaths occur. Bangladesh is also in NCD burden. This cross-sectional study was done on 50 health facilities centres at Gazipur district in Bangladesh from July 2015 to December 2015 to introduce SARA for better monitoring and evaluation of non-communicable diseases health service delivery. The General Service readiness index score was 61.52% refers to the fact that about 62% of all the facilities were ready to provide general services like basic amenities, basic equipment, standard precautions for infection prevention, and diagnostic capacity and essential medicines to the patients. But in case of non-communicable diseases, among all the health facilities 40% had chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular diseases diagnosis/ management and only 32% had availability of diabetes diagnosis/management. Overall readiness score was 52% in chronic respiratory disease, 73% in cardiovascular disease and 70% in diabetes. Therefore, service availability and readiness of the health facilities to provide NCD related health services were not up to the mark for facing future targets.  A full-scale census survey of all the facilities of the study area would give a better understanding of the availability and service readiness.

scholarly journals A health worker knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saiendhra Vasudevan Moodley ◽  
Muzimkhulu Zungu ◽  
Molebogeng Malotle ◽  
Kuku Voyi ◽  
Nico Claassen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Worker ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Health workers are crucial to the successful implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at healthcare facilities. The aim of our study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control knowledge and attitudes of frontline health workers in four provinces of South Africa as well as explore some elements of health worker and health facility infection prevention and control practices. Methods A cross-sectional study design was utilised. The study population comprised both clinical and non-clinical staff working in casualty departments, outpatient departments, and entrance points of health facilities. A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed using the World Health Organization guidance as the basis for the knowledge questions. COVID-19 protocols were observed during data collection. Results A total of 286 health workers from 47 health facilities at different levels of care participated in the survey. The mean score on the 10 knowledge items was 6.3 (SD = 1.6). Approximately two-thirds of participants (67.4%) answered six or more questions correctly while less than a quarter of all participants (24.1%) managed to score eight or more. A knowledge score of 8 or more was significantly associated with occupational category (being either a medical doctor or nurse), age (< 40 years) and level of hospital (tertiary level). Only half of participants (50.7%) felt adequately prepared to deal with patients with COVD-19 at the time of the survey. The health workers displaying attitudes that would put themselves or others at risk were in the minority. Only 55.6% of participants had received infection prevention and control training. Some participants indicated they did not have access to medical masks (11.8%) and gloves (9.9%) in their departments. Conclusions The attitudes of participants reflected a willingness to engage in appropriate SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control practices as well as a commitment to be involved in COVID-19 patient care. Ensuring adequate infection prevention and control training for all staff and universal access to appropriate PPE were identified as key areas that needed to be addressed. Interim and final reports which identified key shortcomings that needed to be addressed were provided to the relevant provincial departments of health.

scholarly journals Empty shelves: selected essential medicines stockouts in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Wolvaardt ◽  
R Nemuntandani ◽  
I Kamungoma-Dada
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Treatment Interruption ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Antiretroviral Medication

Abstract Background Access to essential medicines in South Africa has been compromised by stockouts in health facilities. This study describes the occurrence of stockouts for a selection of essential medicines. Methods This cross-sectional study used secondary data retrieved from the Stop Stock Outs Project (SSP). A descriptive analysis was conducted on data from the 2013-2015 SSP case management database of routinely reported stockouts. Chi square tests of independence was conducted on data from the SSP 2015 annual telephonic survey to investigate associations between the occurrence of stockouts, the level of health facility and the type of health professional. Results 231 facilities reported 609 stockouts. Antiretroviral medication had the most stockout reports (78%; n = 475/609), followed by anti-infectives (17.1%; n = 104/609) and tuberculosis medication (4.9%; n = 30/609). The highest number of stockout reports were received from Gauteng province and the majority (71.09%; n = 150/211) of facilities reporting stockouts were in urban areas. There were more stockouts at ambulatory, rather than inpatient care, facilities however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusions This study confirms that South Africa experiences medicine stockouts for many of the essential medicines, with antiretroviral medication being the category most affected. The stockouts vary between provinces and the urban-rural divide but are an equal threat to both ambulatory and inpatient facilities. Key messages The pattern of stockouts experienced over a three-year period suggest that stockouts are ‘normal’ despite the substantive effects of treatment interruption – especially patients with HIV and/or TB. Antiretroviral therapy is at risk as a result of stockouts.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Prescribing Indicators in a Paediatric Population Seen in an Outpatient Consultation at the Gaspard Kamara Health Centre in 2019 (Senegal)

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Oumar Bassoum ◽  
Mouhamadou Faly Ba ◽  
Ndèye Marème Sougou ◽  
Djibril Fall ◽  
Adama Faye
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Paediatric Population ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Prescribing Indicators ◽  
Outpatient Consultation ◽  
International Nonproprietary Name ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction: Data on drug use in paediatrics are scarce in Senegal. The objective of this study was to assess the prescribing indicators in a paediatric population seen in an outpatient consultation at a Health Centre in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: A retrospective and analytical study was conducted. The study population consisted of prescriptions for children aged 0 to 14 years who were seen in ambulatory consultation between 1 June and 30 November 2019. The sample size was 600 prescriptions. The systematic survey was then conducted. Five prescription indicators recommended by the World Health Organization were calculated. The R software was used for descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis and binomial logistic regression. Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.56. The proportion of drugs prescribed under the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) was 18.9%, while the proportion of drugs on the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) was 41.3%. The proportions of prescriptions with at least one antibiotic and one injectable product were 41.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Conclusions: This study showed that prescribing habits were inadequate. Thus, it would be necessary to move towards continuing training of prescribers in the wise use of medicines.

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