scholarly journals The meaning of community involvement in health: the perspective of primary health care communities

Curationis ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Mchunu ◽  
NS Gwele
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Care Centers

The goal of this study was to establish the understanding and appreciation of the essence of PHC principles in the two Primary Health Care (PHC) communities. The PHC communities in this study referred to the people who were involved in the operation of the phenomenon, that is health professionals working in the health care centers and the communities served by these health care centers. It was hoped that the study would enhance the understanding of the importance of community involvement in health (CIH) in health care delivery, for both community members and health professionals. A case study method was used to conduct the study. Two community health centers in the Ethekwini health district, in Kwa Zulu Natal, were studied. One health center was urban based, the other was rural based. A sample of 31 participants participated in the study. The sample comprised of 8 registered nurses, 2 enrolled nurses, 13 community members and 8 community health workers. Data was collected using individual interviews and focus groups, and was guided by the case study protocol. The findings of the study revealed that in both communities, participants had different, albeit complementary, understanding of the term ‘Community Involvement in Health’ (CIH). Essentially, for these participants, CIH meant collaboration, co-operation and involvement in decision-making.

Authors’ Commentary: Domestic Violence Against Women, Public Policies and Community Health Workers in Brazilian Primary Health Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-239
Author(s):  
Marcos Signorelli ◽  
Angela Taft ◽  
Pedro Paulo Gomes Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Primary Health

In this commentary paper, we highlight the key role that community health workers and family health professionals can perform for the identification and care for women experiencing domestic violence in communities. These workers are part of the primary health-care strategy in the Brazilian public health system, who are available in every municipalities and neighborhoods of the country. Based on our ethnographic research, we argue that identification and care of abused women by these workers and professionals follow a pattern which we described and named “the Chinese whispers model.” We also point gaps in training these workers to deal with complex issues, such as domestic violence, arguing for the need of formal qualification for both community health workers and family health professionals by, for example, incorporating such themes into curricula, further education, and continuing professional development.

scholarly journals The evaluation of knowledge and activities of primary health care professionals in promoting breast-feeding

Medicina ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giedra Levinienė ◽  
Aušra Petrauskienė ◽  
Eglė Tamulevičienė ◽  
Jolanta Kudzytė ◽  
Liutauras Labanauskas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and activities of Kaunas primary health care center professionals in promoting breast-feeding. Material and methods. A total of 84 general practitioners and 52 nurses participated in the survey, which was carried out in Kaunas primary health care centers in 2006. Data were gathered from the anonymous questionnaire. Results. Less than half of general practitioners (45.1%) and 65% of nurses were convinced that baby must be exclusively breast-fed until the age of 6 months, but only 21.6% of general practitioners and 27.5% of nurses knew that breast-feeding with complementary feeding should be continued until the age of 2 years and longer. Still 15.7% of general practitioners and 25% of nurses recommended pacifiers; 7.8% of general practitioners advised to breast-feed according to hours. Half of the health professionals recommended additional drinks between meals; onethird of them – to give complementary food for the babies before the age of 6 months. One-third (29.6%) of the health professionals surveyed recommended mothers to feed their babies more frequently in case the amount of breast milk decreased. Conclusions. The survey showed that knowledge of medical personnel in primary health care centers about the advantages of breast-feeding, prophylaxis of hypogalactia, and duration of breast-feeding was still insufficient.

scholarly journals Health Professional’s Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Adolescent Pregnancy Care in Primary Health Care Centers in Erbil City

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99
Author(s):  
Srwa Mustafa ◽  
◽  
Hamdia Mirkhan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Adolescent Pregnancy ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Pregnancy Care ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers ◽  
And Child Health

Background and objectives: The World Health Organization defines adolescent pregnancy as pregnancy in which the mother is under the age of 20 at the time the pregnancy ends. About 16 million girls aging between 15 and 19 years give birth every year. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude among nurses and physicians in Erbil Primary Health Care Centers regarding adolescent pregnancy care and comparing them. Methods: A quantitative; descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in maternal and child health care units at twenty three Primary Health Care Centers in Erbil city, between November 15th , 2018 and November 15th , 2019. Non-probability, Convenience sam-pling technique was used for selecting sample which includes 95 from the total of 100 health professionals. Data was collected through interview (face to face) by using ques-tionnaire form which was designed by the investigator. Data were analyzed using the Chi square test, Fisher’s exact test. Results: Health professionals mean age + SD was 41.95 + 8.40 years, ranging from 27 to 62 years. The median was 42 years. Less than half (42.1%) of the sample were nurses, and the rest were physicians of different specialties. The highest percentage of the nurse’s knowledge and attitude were in medium level (42.5% and 47.5%, respectively). The high-est percentage of physician’s knowledge and attitude were in high level (58.3% and 65.5% respectively). There were significant difference between them regarding their knowledge (p = 0.32) and attitude (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Health professionals working in maternal and child health care units need improving their knowledge and attitude regarding adolescent pregnancy care. Nurses need more information and training sessions regarding that.

Best Practice and Allied Health

1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Jill Thoroughgood
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Health

In this paper, issues are discussed relating to the provision of quality allied health advice, and the focus of the allied health program in primary health care and community health settings in the Peninsula and Torres Strait Region of Queensland, since Regionalisation in 1991. It was apparent to allied health professionals working in community health, that the change process presented an opportunity to influence not only the Regional Health Authority, but also to act as a united voice for the professions and to be advocates for best practice models of care for the community. Why do allied health professionals need to be utilised in an advisory role in community based health settings? What are the impacts on policy, planning, and on the services provided by community health care workers? How can allied health advisers enhance the quality of outcomes of best practice for the consumers of community health programs? Allied health advisers are important for the whole health sector by ensuring that effective and appropriate allied health services are delivered, that there are increases in allied health resources, that there are improvements in health outcomes for clients, that primary health care models of care are implemented, and, finally, that best practice is implemented by the allied health professional.

Community Health Intervention Program (Chip): Re-Educating Health Professionals for Primary Health Care

1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. N. Egwu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Community ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Impact

Primary health care (PHC) in most developing countries remains largely inaccessible to a vast proportion of urban and rural populations. It is neither influenced by, nor integrated with, preventive care/community development. This may be attributed partly to lack of community participation by communities. Professional health care is isolated and impervious to the influence of health care users. In Nigeria all functional correlates are available in the existing health systems; yet, the impact is not felt. What is needed, and urgently, is an intervention to extend meaningful health care delivery into the urban poor and rural communities. The Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, through a rational and systematic mobilization and utilization of its health manpower, offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that PHC can work. A two-step intervention process is proposed: a reorientation during NYSC “orientation,” and a community-based practice module, during the NYSC “Primary Assignment” phase. Health professionals working as a “team,” and led by NYSC doctor(s), undertake their medical care responsibilities as well as community development projects as integrated aspects of PHC. It is envisaged that experiences accruing from such a deliberate intervention with a pilot project, will form a basis for operational adoption of the proposed CHIP as a national model.

scholarly journals Church-driven primary health care: Models for an integrated church and community primary health care in Africa (a case study of the Salvation Army in East Africa)

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vhumani Magezi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Health Care Delivery ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Salvation Army ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Primary Health

The role of churches in primary health care delivery in Africa’s poor contexts is widely acknowledged. Discussion of churches’ work in health largely focuses on the spiritual side and tends to downplay (or overlook) the practical side. A clear challenge and gap in the role of churches in primary health delivery is the lack of clear models and approaches to determine the efficacy of the interventions. Hence, the role of churches as a player in the delivery of primary health care needs examination. This paper examines the role of church-driven primary health care, using a practical case study of the health work of the Salvation Army in East Africa. It outlines the primary health services rendered by the Salvation Army and deduces five models that emerged from the work of the various implementing churches in delivering primary health care. The article proceeds from an analysis of the meaning of primary health care and how churches are historically and currently positioned to contribute to primary health care. The article demonstrates that, viewed from a primary health care delivery perspective, churches in Africa play a critical practical contribution further to a spiritual role. From a practical theology perspective, the paper provides insight into how churches could operate in communities within the interface of church and health spaces. However, the church’s role and function is organic and differs in every community.

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