The Nigerian Health Workforce in a Globalized Context

2020 ◽  
pp. 199-219
Author(s):  
Uduak Archibong ◽  
Cyril Eshareturi
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Global Mobility ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Work Abroad

Nigerian health professionals are impacted by several global forces bearing down on them, one of which is the positive economic prospects associated with emigrating to work abroad. This emigration is an aspect of increased global mobility which has had an adverse effect on the Nigerian health economy. This is important globally because countries with the smallest healthcare workforce capacities such as Nigeria have the poorest health outcomes. The emigration of health professionals from Nigeria will continue until domestic structures such as improved healthcare infrastructures, job security, and financial rewards change for the better. Thus, it is important that measures aimed at supporting the Nigerian health workforce be implemented with a focus on building and managing for sustainability within the context of international interdependency. Accordingly, this chapter is aimed at creating a theoretical framework for building capacities and managing the challenges of the Nigerian health workforce vis-à-vis the opportunities offered by globalization.

scholarly journals eHealth solutions to regional shortages in the health workforce

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Velez-Lapão ◽  
M Maia ◽  
G Dussault
Keyword(s):  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Digital Services ◽  
Workforce Performance ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Healthcare systems are facing significant challenges, from demographics, shortage of health professionals to increasing costs that are associated with increasing demand. New technologies are thought to be a solution to these problems. However, the question is if the digitalization of healthcare will mitigate these problems and the shortage of health professionals in Europe. Methods This study provides a scoping review on existing health digital services aiming to cope with health professional shortage in Europe. The main challenges, from workforce performance, services quality, patient-interaction to technology use are addressed. The databases of Pubmed and Ebsco were searched. Results 38 papers were selected and analysed addressing eHealth with impact on the workforce performance. It highlights the challenges associated with the digitalization of healthcare, the implementation of digital services, considering the design online service, and the impact of digitalization on healthcare workforce performance. An overview of the major effects of transformative technologies (e.g. eHealth services, Internet of Things solutions, Artificial Intelligence) on the healthcare workforce are addressed. Moreover, what are the major implications of technological change for future skill needs and competences of the public health workforce? Are there any reliable projections on how technologies will change the structure of the labour market for health professionals? And to what extent is the workforce equipped to adapt to the changes? Conclusions Proper digitalization of healthcare will enable changes in the paradigm of healthcare delivery as well as in the mechanism for patients’ participation and engagement. Sustainable implementation of eHealth is an important opportunity to address health workforce shortage but it is not enough.

scholarly journals Size, composition and distribution of health workforce in India: why, and where to invest?

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anup Karan ◽  
Himanshu Negandhi ◽  
Suhaib Hussain ◽  
Tomas Zapata ◽  
Dilip Mairembam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Labor Markets ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Human Resources For Health ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Medical Practitioner ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Skill Mix

Abstract Background Investment in human resources for health not only strengthens the health system, but also generates employment and contributes to economic growth. India can gain from enhanced investment in health workforce in multiple ways. This study in addition to presenting updated estimates on size and composition of health workforce, identifies areas of investment in health workforce in India. Methods We analyzed two sources of data: (i) National Health Workforce Account (NHWA) 2018 and (ii) Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017–2018 of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). Using the two sources, we collated comparable estimates of different categories of health workers in India, density of health workforce and skill-mix at the all India and state levels. Results The study estimated (from NHWA 2018) a total stock of 5.76 million health workers which included allopathic doctors (1.16 million), nurses/midwives (2.34 million), pharmacist (1.20 million), dentists (0.27 million), and traditional medical practitioner (AYUSH 0.79 million). However, the active health workforce size estimated (NSSO 2017–2018) is much lower (3.12 million) with allopathic doctors and nurses/midwives estimated as 0.80 million and 1.40 million, respectively. Stock density of doctor and nurses/midwives are 8.8 and 17.7, respectively, per 10,000 persons as per NHWA. However, active health workers’ density (estimated from NSSO) of doctor and nurses/midwives are estimated to be 6.1 and 10.6, respectively. The numbers further drop to 5.0 and 6.0, respectively, after accounting for the adequate qualifications. All these estimates are well below the WHO threshold of 44.5 doctor, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population. The results reflected highly skewed distribution of health workforce across states, rural–urban and public–private sectors. A substantial proportion of active health worker were found not adequately qualified on the one hand and on the other more than 20% of qualified health professionals are not active in labor markets. Conclusion India needs to invest in HRH for increasing the number of active health workers and also improve the skill-mix which requires investment in professional colleges and technical education. India also needs encouraging qualified health professionals to join the labor markets and additional trainings and skill building for already working but inadequately qualified health workers.

scholarly journals Advancing the Population Needs-Based Health Workforce Planning Methodology: A Simulation Tool for Country Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2113
Author(s):  
James Asamani ◽  
Christmal Christmals ◽  
Gerda Reitsma
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Flow Process ◽  
Health Workforce Planning

Although the conceptual underpinnings of needs-based health workforce planning have developed over the last two decades, lingering gaps in empirical models and lack of open access tools have partly constrained its uptake in health workforce planning processes in countries. This paper presents an advanced empirical framework for the need-based approach to health workforce planning with an open-access simulation tool in Microsoft® Excel to facilitate real-life health workforce planning in countries. Two fundamental mathematical models are used to quantify the supply of, and need for, health professionals, respectively. The supply-side model is based on a stock-and-flow process, and the need-side model extents a previously published analytical frameworks using the population health needs-based approach. We integrate the supply and need analyses by comparing them to establish the gaps in both absolute and relative terms, and then explore their cost implications for health workforce policy and strategy. To illustrate its use, the model was used to simulate a real-life example using midwives and obstetricians/gynaecologists in the context of maternal and new-born care in Ghana. Sensitivity analysis showed that if a constant level of health was assumed (as in previous works), the need for health professionals could have been underestimated in the long-term. Towards universal health coverage, the findings reveal a need to adopt the need-based approach for HWF planning and to adjust HWF supply in line with population health needs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Education for Public Health: A Practical Foundation for Solidarity

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perkiö ◽  
R Harrison ◽  
M Grivna ◽  
D Tao ◽  
C Evashwich
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Abstract Education is a key to creating solidary among the professionals who advance public health’s interdisciplinary mission. Our assumption is that if all those who work in public health shared core knowledge and the skills for interdisciplinary interaction, collaboration across disciplines, venues, and countries would be facilitated. Evaluation of education is an essential element of pedagogy to ensure quality and consistency across boundaries, as articulated by the UNESCO education standards. Our study examined the evaluation studies done by programs that educate public health professionals. We searched the peer reviewed literature published in English between 2000-2017 pertaining to the education of the public health workforce at a degree-granting level. The 2442 articles found covered ten health professions disciplines and had lead authors representing all continents. Only 86 articles focused on evaluation. The majority of the papers examined either a single course, a discipline-specific curriculum or a teaching method. No consistent methodologies could be discerned. Methods ranged from sophisticated regression analyses and trends tracked over time to descriptions of focus groups and interviews of small samples. We found that evaluations were primarily discipline-specific, lacked rigorous methodology in many instances, and that relatively few examined competencies or career expectations. The public health workforce enjoys a diversity of disciplines but must be able to come together to share diverse knowledge and skills. Evaluation is critical to achieving a workforce that is well trained in the competencies pertinent to collaboration. This study informs the pedagogical challenges that must be confronted going forward, starting with a commitment to shared core competencies and to consistent and rigorous evaluation of the education related to training public health professionals. Key messages Rigorous evaluation is not sufficiently used to enhance the quality of public health education. More frequent use of rigorous evaluation in public health education would enhance the quality of public health workforce, and enable cross-disciplinary and international collaboration for solidarity.

Factors that contribute to high-quality clinical supervision of the rural allied health workforce: lessons from the coalface

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Martin ◽  
Katherine Baldock ◽  
Saravana Kumar ◽  
Lucylynn Lizarondo
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Supervision ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Remote Health ◽  
Rural And Remote Health

Objective The aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to high-quality clinical supervision of the allied health workforce in rural and remote settings. Methods This quantitative study was part of a broader project that used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Participants were 159 allied health professionals from two Australian states. Quantitative data were collected using an online customised survey and the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26). Data were analysed using regression analyses. Results Supervisee’s work setting and choice of supervisor were found to have a positive and significant influence on clinical supervision quality. Supervisee profession and time in work role were found to have a negative and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. Conclusions High-quality clinical supervision is essential to achieve quality and safety of health care, as well as to support the health workforce. Information on high-quality clinical supervision identified in this study can be applied to clinical supervision practices in rural and remote settings, and to professional support policies and training to enhance the quality of supervision. What is known about the topic? There is mounting evidence on the benefits of clinical supervision to health professionals, organisations and patients. Clinical supervision enhances recruitment and retention of the health workforce. However, there are still gaps regarding the factors that contribute to high-quality clinical supervision, especially for rural and remote health professionals. What does this paper add? This study, the first of its kind, recruited rural and remote health professionals from seven allied health disciplines across two Australian states. It investigated the factors that influence high-quality clinical supervision in this under-resourced group. This paper outlines specific factors that contribute to clinical supervision quality for rural and remote allied health professionals. What are the implications for practitioners? Effective and high-quality clinical supervision of the rural and remote allied health workforce can enhance recruitment and retention in those areas. Healthcare organisations can facilitate effective clinical supervision delivery by using the evidence gathered in this study in clinical supervision policy, training and practice.

scholarly journals Choosing a nursing career: Building an indigenous nursing workforce

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Deravin ◽  
Karen Francis ◽  
Judith Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Nursing Workforce ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Closing The Gap ◽  
Nursing Career ◽  
National Partnership ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: This paper provides an overview of the impact of government policy in supporting the growth of an Indigenous nursing workforce in New South Wales and Australia.Methods: Publically available nursing workforce performance reports along with current literature were reviewed to provide a perspective on the current situation.Results and discussion: The National partnership agreement on closing the gap in Indigenous health outcomes indicated that to improve Indigenous health outcomes, significant investment is required with particular reference to increasing an Indigenous workforce. As nurses comprise the majority of the health workforce a number of strategies and initiatives have been put in place to support this agreement. Even though there has been commitment through government policy and funding initiatives it is questionable if this is having any real impact on growing an Indigenous nursing workforce.Conclusions: Recruitment strategies that will increase the number of Indigenous nurses within the health workforce requires a multilevel approach. Despite efforts to increase Indigenous nursing workforce numbers, there has been limited impact to any real successful gains since 2008. Building and growing an Indigenous nursing workforce that will support the “Closing the Gap” initiative will require significant continuing effort.

How does trust affect help-seeking for Depression in Russia and Australia?

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110392
Author(s):  
Daniel Cavanagh ◽  
Tomas Jurcik ◽  
Morteza Charkhabi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Psychological Help ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cultural Research

Background: Depression is a major contributor to the global burden of disease that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Cross cultural studies find that culture influences levels of trust which can impact upon an individual’s likelihood to seek psychological help when experiencing Depression. Aims: Help seeking is essential for improved mental health outcomes. This study aims to consider how trust affects help-seeking as well as examine the differences in stigma and social distance between participants in Russia and Australia. Method: Participants consisted of two separate samples from Australian ( n = 229) and Russia ( n = 259) which were recruited based on a vignette of a diagnostically unlabelled psychiatric case history with Depression using a cross-cultural research design. They completed items on the level of trust in health professionals, stigma and endorsement of help-seeking. Results: Findings suggest that trust can predict the endorsement of seeking help from a psychologist. Moreover, trust was lower for participants in Russia compared to those in Australia for mental health professionals. Participants in Russia had higher levels of stigma and social distance than their counterparts in Australia. Overall, participants in Australia were more likely to seek professional help than those in Russia. Conclusions: Trust can predict the endorsement of help-seeking from mental health professionals cross culturally. Barriers to help-seeking such as stigma continue to negatively affect mental health outcomes, particularly in Russia.

The Environmental Impact of 5G Technology on Humans and Animals

2021 ◽  
pp. 48-68
Author(s):  
Rakesh Kumar Chandan ◽  
Prem Nath Suman ◽  
Keshav Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Wave Frequency ◽  
Small Cells ◽  
Low Latency

5G has the potential to become the future communication technology as it has the capability to provide faster download speeds, extremely low latency, and higher capacity. The deployment of 5G will be as a wi-fi that will cover the entire globe. It will serve an elevated number of devices than the previous technology; therefore, the distribution of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) will grow rapidly. Although no direct adverse effect has been reported by the service providers, the real health impact of this advanced technology is still under investigation. It is expected that the mm-wave frequency range (30-300 GHz) is ideal for 5G technology, and the devices, in this operating range, will work at very low power due to which small penetration is supposed to occur, but it will require a high density of small cells. It will increase the chances of human exposure to RF-EMF. In this chapter, a theoretical framework is used to describe the effect of 5G technology on humans and animals and also the rumors related to the adaptation of 5G technology.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Digital transformation in Public Health in Europe?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Velez-Lapão
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Digital Services ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Healthcare systems are facing many challenges, from demographics to multi-morbidities that are associated with increasing the demand for more services. The new technologies are thought to be a solution to these problems. However, to address these problems with digitalization of healthcare it will imply the combination of proper use of technologies, aligned with integrated working-processes and skilled professionals. Methods This study provides a scoping review on existing public health digital services and aimed to identify the main digitalization challenges, from competencies to technology use. The databases of Pubmed and Ebsco were searched. Results 17 papers were selected, and the three main priorities were identified. First, it will highlight the challenges associated with the digitalization of healthcare, the second the implementation of digital services, considering a method to design online service, the third the impact of digitalization on healthcare workforce performance. An overview of the major effects of transformative technologies (e.g. eHealth services, Internet of Things solutions, Artificial Intelligence) on the healthcare workforce will be addressed. Moreover, to what extent is the digital transition affecting formal qualifications of public health professionals? What are the major implications of technological change for future skill needs and competences of the public health workforce? Finally, the discussion examines the challenges of digitalization for public health services in Europe. Conclusions Proper digitalization of healthcare will enable changes in the paradigm of healthcare delivery as well as in the mechanism for patients’ participation and engagement. The sustainability of healthcare will depend on how efficient we will make digital-services design. Key words Digital health, Public Health, Digital Transformation, Public Health professionals, Europe

scholarly journals Reintroducing B. infantis to the cesarean-born neonate: an ecologically sound alternative to “vaginal seeding”

2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebbeca M Duar ◽  
David Kyle ◽  
Rachel M Tribe
Keyword(s):  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Ecological Perspective ◽  
False Sense ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
Infant Gut Microbiome

ABSTRACT There is a burgeoning literature highlighting differences in health outcomes between babies born vaginally and by caesarean section (c-section) This has led to the suggestion that infants born by c-section may benefit from vaginal swabbing/seeding. Here, we discuss from an ecological perspective that it is gut-adapted, not vagina-adapted microbes that are likely to take up residence in the gut and have the most beneficial impact on the developing neonate. Further, we caution the practice of ‘vaginal seeding’ may be potentially unsafe and also give parents and health professionals a false sense of action in restoring the infant gut microbiome following c-section. Instead, we argue that restoring B. longum subsp. infantis, which has evolved to colonize the infant gut, is a safe and ecologically-sound approach to restoring the gut microbiome of infants born by c-section.

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