Corrupt Practices in the Public Health Sector: A Focus on Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mustapha Namadi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
The Government

Corruption is pervasive in Nigeria at all levels. Thus, despite recent gains in healthcare provision, the health sector faces numerous corruption related challenges. This study aims at examining areas of corruption in the health sector with specific focus on its types and nature. A sample size of 480 respondents aged 18 years and above was drawn from the eight Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, using the multistage sampling technique. The results revealed evidence of corrupt practices including those related to unnecessary-absenteeism, diversion of patients from the public health facilities to the private sector, diverting money meant for the purchase of equipment, fuel and diesel, bribery, stealing of medications, fraud, misappropriation of medications and unjustifiable reimbursement claims. In order to resolve the problem of corrupt practices in the healthcare sector, the study recommended the need for enforcement of appropriate code of ethics guiding the conduct of the health professionals, adoption of anti-corruption strategies, and strengthening the government monitoring system to check corruption in public health sector in order to ensure equitable access to healthcare services among the under-privileged people in the society.

scholarly journals Work Features that Influence the Retention of Professional Nurses in the Public Health Sector in Windhoek, Namibia

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frieda N. Washeya ◽  
Laetitia N. Fürst
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Career Development ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Professional Nurse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
Professional Nurses

The retention of professional nurses in the public health sector is essential for maintaining quality nursing care. Effective retention strategies enhance nurses’ job satisfaction, promote professionalism, decrease organisational costs and improve patients’ care. The Namibian public health sector has, for a long time, experienced challenges in retaining professional nurses and this has affected patient care, students’ clinical practice and the facilities’ status. A qualitative descriptive design was used in this study to explore professional nurses’ perceptions of factors influencing the retention of professional nurses at a health facility in Windhoek, Namibia. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 professional nurses. Tesch’s eight steps for data analysis generated two themes, namely: 1) Satisfaction with remuneration varied; the work environment was non-conducive and management was inadequate; and 2) Dissatisfaction resulted from negative psychological effects of the work environment and lack of career development opportunities. Remuneration packages in the public healthcare sector were regarded as inadequate compared to the private healthcare sector, which was deemed as greener pastures. The physical work environment is non-conducive and under-resourced, which has an effect on the physiological work environment when staff develop feelings of guilt, frustration, stress, feeling unsafe and uncared for—all potential catalysts for the loss of the professional nurse workforce due to resignations. In addition, career development opportunities were experienced as biased and unfair. Strategies are recommended to improve the remuneration packages and provide a well-resourced and conducive work environment, which supports the professional nurse to ensure quality patient care.

scholarly journals Enhancing partnerships and collaboration in times of change

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Clark ◽  
S Neil-Sztramko ◽  
M Dobbins
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
The Government ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Abstract Issue In 2019, the government of the Canadian province of Ontario announced major changes to the structure, governance and funding of public health services. Throughout these changes, publicly funded local and regional public health organizations are still expected to provide effective, evidence-informed programming to their communities. The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) has facilitated collaborations to support Ontario public health through this transition. Description of the problem In order to support evidence-informed public health in Ontario during this transition, the NCCMT reached out to current and potential partners, within and beyond the public health sector for a multidisciplinary approach. We conducted a needs assessment for an evidence review repository, which would allow public health practitioners to share and build upon each other's work. Finally, demonstrating the value of public health to policymakers can be inherently challenging as the return on investment in public health is often very long term. We partnered with health units in varying capacities to find and synthesize evidence to advocate for continued investment in public health. Results This initiative has provided important lessons in developing and maintaining strong partnerships. Looking beyond the public health sector can establish mutually beneficial partners and allies in other disciplines. A key finding was the need to establish infrastructure to support collaboration and resource sharing. Finally, we learned that big picture questions like demonstrating the value of public health require many different perspectives, inputs and areas of expertise. Lessons Through this initiative, we have developed a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to supporting evidence-informed public health through times of major restructuring. This approach can be applied to future changes to public health on smaller or larger scales, or within other geographic regions. Key messages Multidisciplinary approaches can support collaboration, unity and advocacy in times of change. Establishing infrastructure to support collaboration and sharing of resources is valuable.

scholarly journals Guidelines to facilitate self-care among older persons in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinda Rabie ◽  
Hester C. Klopper
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
Care Guidelines ◽  
Professional Nurses ◽  
Care Agency

Background: The number of older persons is growing at an alarming rate, yet the South African healthcare sector is not giving this issue the required attention. Moreover, the healthcare sector serves four-fifths of the country's population and primary healthcare (PHC) facilities are overcrowded, and thus professional nurses are prevented from providing sufficient self-care health education to older persons.Aim: To develop guidelines for the three role players — the public health sector, professional nurse and older person — to facilitate self-care among older persons in South Africa.Design: Quantitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual research design.Methods: A literature review followed by a self-care assessment of a sample of older persons using the Appraisal of Self-care Agency (ASA-A) and Exercise of Self-care Agency (ESCA) questionnaires which led to the identification of conclusions and self-care deficits.Results: Based on Menon's psychological health empowerment model, and from the conclusions and self-care deficits, nine self-care guidelines were developed for the public health sector, professional nurses and older persons.Conclusion: This is the first systematic development of guidelines to facilitate self-care among older persons in South Africa.Implications for practice: The implementation of the self-care guidelines by the public health sector, professional nurses and older persons will improve the healthcare of older persons at home which will in turn improve their quality of life, reduce unintentional self-neglect, as well as assist in alleviating overcrowding in clinics because unnecessary visits to the clinic will drop.

Funding models and expenditures with primary healthcare in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil metropolitan area

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Vivas ◽  
M Duarte ◽  
A Pitta ◽  
B Christovam
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Healthcare Budget ◽  
Health Budget ◽  
The Public ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background The government investments in quality primary healthcare are the basis to strengthening the health systems and monitoring the public expenditure in this area is a way to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the public health policies. The Brazil Ministry of Health changed, in 2017, the method of onlending federal resources to states and cities seeking to make the public funds management more flexible. This change, however, suppressed mandatory investments in primary healthcare. This research aims to determine the difference of expenditures on primary healthcare in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil metropolitan area before and after this funding reform, seeking to verify how it can impact the quality of primary healthcare services and programs. Methods This is an ecological time-series study that used data obtained in the Brazil Ministry of Health budget reports. The median and interquartile range of expenditures on primary healthcare (set as the percentage of total public health budget applied in primary care services and programs) of the 13 cities in the Salvador metropolitan area were compared two years before and after the reform. Results The median of expenditures on primary healthcare in Salvador metropolitan area was 25.5% (13,9% - 32,2%) of total public health budget before and 24.8% (20.8% - 30.0%) of total public health budget after the reform (-0.7% difference). Seven cities decreased the expenditures on primary healthcare after the reform, ranging from 1.2% to 10.8% reduction in the primary healthcare budget in five years. Conclusions Expenditures on primary healthcare in Salvador metropolitan area decreased after the 2017 funding reform. Seven of 13 cities reduced the government investments on primary healthcare services and programs in this scenario. Although the overall difference was -0.7%, the budget cuts ranged from 1.2% to 10.8% in the analyzed period and sample. More studies should assess these events in wide areas and with long time ranges. Key messages Public health funding models can impact the primary healthcare settings regardless of the health policy. Reforms in the funding models should consider the possible benefits before implementation. Funding models and methods that require mandatory investments in primary healthcare may be considered over more flexible ones.

scholarly journals Identifying and bridging the knowledge-to-practice gaps in rehabilitation professionals working with at-risk infants in the public health sector of South Africa: a multimethod study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e039242
Author(s):  
Pragashnie Govender
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector

IntroductionEarly childhood is a critical time when the benefits of early interventions are intensified, and the adverse effects of risk can be reduced. For the optimal provision of early intervention, professionals in the field are required to have specialised knowledge and skills in implementing these programmes. In the context of South Africa, there is evidence to suggest that therapists are ill-prepared to handle the unique challenges posed in neonatal intensive care units and wards with at-risk infants in the first few weeks of life. This is attributed to several reasons; however, irrespective of the causative factors, the need to bridge this knowledge-to-practice gap remains essential.Methods and analysisThis study is a multimethod stakeholder-driven study using a scoping review followed by an appreciative inquiry and Delphi process that will aid in the development, implementation and evaluation of a knowledge translation intervention to bridge knowledge-gaps in occupational and physiotherapists working in the field. Therapists currently working in the public health sector will be recruited for participation in the various stages of the study. The analysis will occur via thematic analysis for qualitative data and percentages and frequencies for descriptive quantitative data. Issues around trustworthiness and rigour, and reliability and validity, will be ensured within each of the phases, by use of a content validity index and inter-rater reliability for the Delphi survey; thick descriptions, peer debriefing, member checking and an audit trail for the qualitative data.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received full ethical approval from the Health Research and Knowledge Management Directorate of the Department of Health and a Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to the relevant stakeholders within this study.

scholarly journals ICT Framework to Support a Patient-Centric approach in Public Healthcare

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 45-76
Author(s):  
Richard Pankomera ◽  
Darelle Van Greunen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Patient Centric

Although Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the healthcare sector are extensively deployed globally, they are not used effectively in developing countries. Many resource poor countries face numerous challenges in implementing the ICT interventions. For instance, many health applications that have been deployed are not user-centric. As a result, such ICT interventions do not benefit many health consumers. The lack of an ICT framework to support patient-centric healthcare services in Malawi renders the e-health and mhealth interventions less sustainable and less cost effective. The aim of the study was therefore to develop an ICT Framework that could support patient-centric healthcare services in the public health sector in Malawi. The comprehensive literature review and semi-structured interviews highlighted many challenges underlying ICT development in Malawi. An ICT framework for patient-centric healthcare services is therefore proposed to ensure that eHealth and mobile health interventions are more sustainable and cost effective. The framework was validated by five experts selected from different areas of expertise including mhealth application developers, ICT policy makers and public health practitioners. Results show that the framework is relevant, useful and applicable within the setting of Malawi. The framework can also be implemented in various countries with similar settings.

Koordination im Gesundheitssystem – neue Anforderungen an Dienstleistungen und Interaktionsarbeit / Coordination in the public health sector – new demands on services and interaction work

Arbeit ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Stöger
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector

AbstractDer Artikel schildert Teilergebnisse eines Forschungsprojektes über Gesundheitsdienstleistungen am Beispiel der seltenen Krankheit ALS. Dargestellt wird die Interaktionsarbeit der Gesundheitskoordination, die PatientInnen bei der Bewältigung der Krankheitsfolgen Hilfestellung bietet und deren Interessen gegenüber den AkteurInnen im Gesundheitssystem vertritt. Sie übernimmt damit eine Koordinierungsfunktion, die aufgrund der steigenden Abstimmungsprobleme zwischen den einzelnen Leistungsbereichen der Gesundheitsversorgung notwendig wird. Die Tätigkeit stellt höchste Ansprüche an die Interaktionsarbeit, die durch geeignete Arbeitsgestaltungsmaßnahmen gefördert werden kann.

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