scholarly journals Experiences of community service environmental health practitioners

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anusha Karamchand ◽  
Emilie J. Kistnasamy
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: The community service initiative, a 1-year placement of health graduates, significantly improved human resource availability in the South African public health sector, even though the process was fraught with challenges. Although experiences in the curative health sector were assessed, the experiences of environmental health practitioners were yet to be studied.Research purpose: This study assessed the experiences of environmental health practitioners during their community service year.Motivation for the study: Anecdotal evidence suggested problems with the process. This study endeavoured to identify the challenges whilst taking cognisance of its effectiveness.Method: A total of n = 40 environmental health graduates from the Durban University of Technology who had concluded community service completed questionnaires in this crosssectional quantitative study. Descriptive statistics, means and standard deviations were used to analyse the data.Main findings: The timing of community service placements was critical as 58% of respondents had to repay study loans. The placement of married respondents (10%) outside KwaZuluNatal, however, could have had impacts on family structures. Only 68% felt stimulated by their job functions, and there arose challenges with accommodation and overtime duties. Respondents felt that their tertiary education did equip them and that engagement with senior personnel helped in their professional development. Even though most of the review of the community service year appeared to be positive, a majority of respondents did not intend to continue working or recommending their workplaces. Future career pathing showed that 79% would prefer to be employed outside the public sector.Practical and managerial implications: The process needs to be reviewed to strengthen human resource management and enhance retention in the often overloaded and under-resourced South African public health sector.Contribution: Relevant stakeholders can better plan, communicate and support affected parties through empowering management structures and providing logistical aid.

scholarly journals Who manages health workforce in the States of India: Profile, knowledge and perceptions of the team

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Khurana ◽  
S Roy ◽  
M Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Problem Human resources in the public health sector is of prime importance in a limited resource setting country, who at times work in a high-pressure, limited resource environment and where skilled staff continue to remain in short supply. The role of Human Resource for Health (HRH) team responsible for managing this health workforce is crucial. They play an important role in improving the human resource practices and creating an enabling organizational culture for optimal resource utilization. The paper explores the profile of the HRH teams of the states of India, their knowledge levels, and perceptions of their role. Methods The participants were HR Managers from 29 states of India who look after HRH in National Health Mission and State Health Departments. Cross-sectional survey tool was used for data collection. Quantitative data analysis included univariate and bivariate analysis. One Way ANOVA test of significance and post-hoc tests using Tukey's method was used to ascertain the groups with significant difference. Results Most of the HRH team members are postgraduates or have management background. Their experience varies from <1year to > 25 years. Mostly of them perceive their role to be limited to implementing bare essential HRM practices, mostly administrative. The educational qualification of the members did not have any significant bearing on their technical knowledge related to HRM practices; but their experience in public health sector showed a significant association. Lessons This study lends evidence to the principle that professionals who have been in the system for long, know about HRH and the associated policies better, and hence may be better equipped to handle HRH and establish good HR Management (HRM) systems. Better role clarity among the HRH teams, expansion of their current scope of work to include advanced practices of HRM and continuous capacity building mechanisms are needed to help strengthen the development and management of HRH. Key messages This study, a first of its kind in the country, lend evidence related to the principle for deciding the profile of team who should be entrusted with managing and development of HRH. The Study gives evidence to focus on the role clarity of HRH to zero down their knowledge and skills gaps and enhance their competencies through better capacity building.

scholarly journals The burden of cancers associated with HIV in the South African public health sector, 2004–2014: a record linkage study

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Dhokotera ◽  
Julia Bohlius ◽  
Adrian Spoerri ◽  
Matthias Egger ◽  
Jabulani Ncayiyana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Record Linkage ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
The South ◽  
Public Health Sector

scholarly journals Environmental health community service: Confronting the human resource challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patience Mbola ◽  
Izanne S. Human ◽  
Paula E. Melariri
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Effective Selection ◽  
Chi Square Test

Orientation: The environmental health graduates are required to complete community service before they could be registered as independent practitioners by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Community service programme serves as the mechanism to recruit healthcare professionals who will improve the provision of equitable and quality healthcare.Research purpose: The study aimed to explore, identify and describe the factors that had an influence on the effective selection, placement and utilisation of environmental health graduates as well as an evaluation of the effectiveness of community service.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. The study included 24 environmental health practitioners who completed their community service and 10 environmental health practitioners responsible for coordinating community service in the municipal, provincial and national spheres of government in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa during 2013–2016. Purposive sample was drawn from each population. T-test and chi-square test were used to determine the statistical significant differences. The open-ended question responses from the structured questionnaire were qualitatively analysed by an independent coder.Main findings: The findings revealed major problems regarding the effective implementation of community service that included decreasing number of community service posts, inadequate material resources, lack of induction, inconsistent supervision, and a lack of evaluation of the community service.Contribution: The study findings suggest important inequalities that should deserve urgent attention. Study concludes by presenting recommendations for the improvement of the community service in the environmental health.

scholarly journals Strengthening the Capacity of Local Health Agencies through Community-Based Assessment and Planning

2009 ◽  
Vol 124 (6) ◽  
pp. 875-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlyn Orians ◽  
Shyanika Rose ◽  
Brian Hubbard ◽  
John Sarisky ◽  
Letitia Reason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Building Community ◽  
Problem Solving Competency

Objectives. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE EH) in building competency in essential environmental health services and renewing efforts to engage the community in problem solving. Competency and community engagement have been identified by environmental health practitioners as important to meet new threats to public health. Methods. We conducted a national survey and 24 case studies of public health agencies. We invited 917 organizations to participate in the national survey because they had requested a copy of the protocol. Results. We received 656 total responses: 354 had not considered implementation, 302 had considered implementation, and 66 had implemented PACE EH. For the 24 case studies, we interviewed 206 individuals in communities implementing PACE EH. We found that PACE EH has had a positive effect on building community and professional networks, enhancing leadership, developing workforce competence, and expanding definitions of environmental health practice. Conclusions. With appropriate investments, PACE EH can be an effective tool to meet the environmental health challenges identified by local environmental health practitioners and state, tribal, and federal agencies.

scholarly journals Sistem Pendukung Keputusan untuk Penentuan Prioritas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat melalui Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat Menggunakan Metode Topsis

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 501
Author(s):  
Alif Catur Murti ◽  
Ahmad Abdul Chamid
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Lifestyle ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
The Republic

<p class="Abstrak">Sektor kesehatan yang menjadi pilar utama  pemerintah Kabupaten Kudus diwujudkan dengan pengembangan sarana serta pelayanan kesehatan yang baik di masing – masing kecamatan. Dinas kesehatan memiliki tanggung jawab untuk melakukan upaya menjaga dan meningkatkan taraf kesehatan masyarakat, dengan dibantu tenaga kesehatan yang berada di puskesmas dan pustu di tiap kecamatan. Kondisi tingkat kesehatan masyarakat yang fluktuatif terjadi, karena dipengaruhi oleh tidak tepatnya sasaran masyarakat yang perlu dilakukan pemberdayaan, Dapat dikatakan promosi kesehatan ini masih belum dapat dikatakan efektif, karena belum adanya sistem yang bisa memrioritaskan masyarakat yang membutuhkan pemberdayaan dalam bentuk promosi dan penyuluhan kesehatan. Dalam penelitian ini metode yang digunakan adalah TOPSIS dan kriteria yang digunakan ada 4 yaitu KIA, Kesehatan Lingkungan, Gaya Hidup, dan Upaya Kesehatan masyarakat. Masing – masing kriteria memiliki jumlah indikator penilaian yang berbeda dimana KIA memiliki 4 indikator, Kesehatan lingkungan dan gaya hidup masing – masing 5 indikator, sedangkan upaya kesehatan masyarakat 2 indikator. Indikator penilaian ini sesuai dengan Peraturan Mentri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia No 2269/MENKES/PER/XI/2011.<strong> </strong>Metode TOPSIS digunakan karena mampu mencari alternatif optimal berdasarkan jarak ideal positif dan negatif. Dari hasil analisa Kritria PHBS (Prilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat) yang menjadi faktor penentu adalah pada kriteria Upaya kesehatan Masyarakat karena tahapan akhir dari kesadaran pentingnya kesehatan tidak hanya sampai individu saja, melainkan sudah berkembang sampai mendukung dan melakukan upaya kesehatan masyarakat.</p><p class="Abstrak"> </p><p class="Abstrak"><em><strong>Abstract</strong></em></p><p class="Abstract">The health sector which is the main pillar of the Kudus Regency government is realized by developing good health facilities and services in each sub-district. The health office has the responsibility to make efforts to maintain and improve the health of the community, with the help of health workers in the health center in each sub-district. Fluctuating public health conditions occur, because it is influenced by the inaccurate target of the community that needs to be empowered. It can be said that this health promotion still cannot be said to be effective, because there is no system that can prioritize people who need empowerment in the form of health promotion and counseling. In this study the method used is TOPSIS and the criteria used are 4, namely KIA, Environmental Health, Lifestyle, and Public Health Efforts. Each criterion has a number of different assessment indicators where KIA has 4 indicators, environmental health and lifestyle of each of the 5 indicators, while public health efforts are 2 indicators. The indicator of this assessment is in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No 2269 / MENKES / PER / XI / 2011. The TOPSIS method is used because it is able to find optimal alternatives based on ideal positive and negative distances. From the results of the PHBS Critical (Clean and Healthy Lifestyle) analysis that are the determining factors are the criteria for Public Health Efforts because the final stages of awareness of the importance of health are not only for individuals, but have developed to support and make public health efforts.</p>

scholarly journals A South African Public Law Perspective on Digitalisation in the Health Sector

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firoz Cachalia ◽  
Jonathan Klaaren
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
South African ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Public Law ◽  
The South ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution

We explored some of the questions posed by digitalisation in an accompanying working paper focused on constitutional theory: Digitalisation, the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ and the Constitutional Law of Privacy in South Africa. In that paper, we asked what legal resources are available in the South African legal system to respond to the risk and benefits posed by digitalisation. We argued that this question would be best answered by developing what we have termed a 'South African public law perspective'. In our view, while any particular legal system may often lag behind, the law constitutes an adaptive resource that can and should respond to disruptive technological change by re-examining existing concepts and creating new, more adequate conceptions. Our public law perspective reframes privacy law as both a private and a public good essential to the functioning of a constitutional democracy in the era of digitalisation. In this working paper, we take the analysis one practical step further: we use our public law perspective on digitalisation in the South African health sector. We do so because this sector is significant in its own right – public health is necessary for a healthy society – and also to further explore how and to what extent the South African constitutional framework provides resources at least roughly adequate for the challenges posed by the current 'digitalisation plus' era. The theoretical perspective we have developed is certainly relevant to digitalisation’s impact in the health sector. The social, economic and political progress that took place in the 20th century was strongly correlated with technological change of the first three industrial revolutions. The technological innovations associated with what many are terming ‘the fourth industrial revolution’ are also of undoubted utility in the form of new possibilities for enhanced productivity, business formation and wealth creation, as well as the enhanced efficacy of public action to address basic needs such as education and public health.

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