Resilience of health systems in conflict affected governorates of Iraq, 2014–2018

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the resilience of health systems in four governorates affected by conflict from 2014 to 2018, and to convey recommendations. Methods Health managers from Al Anbar, Ninawa, Salah al-Din, and Kirkuk governorates discussed resilience factors of Primary Health Care services affected by the 2014–2017 ISIS insurgency in focus groups, and general discussions. Additional information was gathered from key informants and a UNICEF health facility survey. Three specific aspects were examined: (1) meeting health needs in the immediate crisis response, (2) adaptation of services, (3) restructuring and recovery measures. Data from a MoH/UNICEF national health facility survey in 2017 were analyzed for functionality. Results There were many common themes across the four governorates, with local variations. (1) Absorption The shock to the public sector health services by the ISIS invasion caught health services in the four governorates unprepared, with limited abilities to continue to provide services. Private pharmacies and private clinics in some places withstood the initial shock better than the public sector. (2) Adaptation After the initial shock, many health facilities adapted by focusing on urgent needs for injury and communicable disease care. In most locations, maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) preventive and promotive PHC services stopped. Ill persons would sometimes consult health workers in their houses at night for security reasons. (3) Restructuring or transformative activities In most areas, health services recovery was continuing in 2020. Some heavily damaged facilities are still functioning, but below pre-crisis level. Rebuilding lost community trust in the public sector is proving difficult. Conclusion Health services generally had little preparation for and limited resilience to the ISIS influx. Governorates are still restructuring services after the liberation from ISIS in 2017. Disaster planning was identified by all participants as a missing component, as everyone anticipated future similar emergencies.

Basic emergency obstetric and newborn care service availability and readiness in Nepal: Analysis of the 2015 Nepal Health Facility Survey

Background Achieving maternal and newborn related Sustainable Development Goals targets is challenging for Nepal, mainly due to poor quality of maternity services. In this context, we aim to assess the Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) service availability and readiness in health facilities in Nepal by analyzing data from Nepal Health Facility Survey (NHFS), 2015. Methods We utilized cross-sectional data from the nationally representative NHFS, 2015. Service availability was measured by seven signal functions of BEmONC, and service readiness by the availability and functioning of supportive items categorized into three domains: staff and guidelines, diagnostic equipment, and basic medicine and commodities. We used the World Health Organization’s service availability and readiness indicators to estimate the readiness scores. We performed a multiple linear regression to identify important factors in the readiness of the health facilities to provide BEmONC services. Results The BEmONC service readiness score was significantly higher in public hospitals compared with private hospitals and peripheral public health facilities. Significant factors associated with service readiness score were the facility type (14.69 points higher in public hospitals, P<0.001), number of service delivery staff (2.49 points increase per each additional delivery staff, P<0.001), the service hours (4.89 points higher in facilities offering 24-hour services, P = 0.01) and status of periodic review of maternal and newborn deaths (4.88 points higher in facilities that conducted periodic review, P = 0.043). Conclusions These findings suggest that BEmONC services in Nepal could be improved by increasing the number of service delivery staff, expanding service hours to 24-hours a day, and conducting periodic review of maternal and newborn deaths at health facilities, mainly in the peripheral public health facilities. The private hospitals need to be encouraged for BEmONC service readiness.

Availability and readiness to provide sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing and counselling services in Nepal: evidence from comprehensive health facility survey

ObjectiveWe assessed the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV testing and counselling (HTC) services in Nepal.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study.SettingWe used data from the most recent nationally representative Nepal Health Facility Survey (NHFS) 2015. A total of 963 health facilities were surveyed with 97% response rate.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome of this study was to assess the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide STI and HTC services using the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) manual.ResultsNearly three-fourths (73.8%) and less than one-tenth (5.9%) of health facilities reported providing STI and HTC services, respectively. The mean readiness score of STI and HTC services was 26.2% and 68.9%, respectively. The readiness scores varied significantly according to the managing authority (private vs public) for both STI and HTC services. Interestingly, health facilities with external supervision had better service readiness scores for STI services that were almost four points higher than compared with those facilities with no external supervision. Regarding HTC services, service readiness was lower at private hospitals (32.9 points lower) compared to government hospitals. Unlike STI services, the readiness of facilities to provide HTC services was higher (4.8 point higher) at facilities which performed quality assurance.ConclusionThe facility readiness for HTC service is higher than that for STI services. There are persistent gaps in staff, guidelines and medicine and commodities across both services. Government of Nepal should focus on ensuring constant supervision and quality assurance, as these were among the determining factors for facility readiness.

Health system’s readiness to provide cardiovascular, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease related services in Nepal: analysis using 2015 health facility survey

Background: The burgeoning rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is posing serious challenges in resource constrained health facilities of Nepal. The main objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) services in Nepal. Methods: This study utilized data from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015. General readiness of 940 health facilities along with disease specific readiness for CVDs, diabetes and CRDs were assessed using service availability and readiness assessment manual of the World Health Organization (WHO). Health facilities were categorized into public and private facilities. Results: Out of a total of 940 health facilities assessed, private facilities showed higher availability of items of general service readiness, except for standard precautions for infection prevention, compared to public facilities. The multivariable adjusted regression coefficients for CVDs (β=2.87, 95%CI: 2.42-3.39), diabetes (β =3.02, 95%CI: 2.03-4.49) and CRDs (β=15.95, 95%CI: 4.61-55.13) at private facilities were higher than the public hospitals. Health facilities located in hills had higher readiness index for CVDs (β=1.99, 95%CI: 1.02 - 1.39). Service readiness for CVDs (β=1.13, 95%CI: 1.04-1.23) and diabetes (β=1.78, 95%CI: 1.23-2.59) were higher in the urban municipalities than in rural municipalities. Finally, disease related services readiness index was sub-optimal with some degree of variation at the province level in Nepal. Compared to province 1, Province 2 (β=0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-0.95), and province 4 (β =1.24, 95%CI: 1.07-1.43) and province 5 (β =1.17, 95%CI: 1.02-1.34) had higher readiness index for CVDs.Conclusions: This study found sub-optimal readiness of services related to three NCDs at the public facilities in Nepal. Compared to public facilities, private facilities showed higher readiness score for CVDs, diabetes and CRDs. To cope up with the growing burden of NCDs, urgent improvement in health services, particularly in public facilities are critical to manage common NCDs.

Health system's readiness to provide cardiovascular, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease related services in Nepal: analysis using 2015 health facility survey

Background: The burgeoning rise of non-communicable diseases is posing a serious challenge in resource constrained health facilities of Nepal. The main objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities for cardiovascular, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease services in Nepal. Methods: This study utilized data from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015. General readiness of 940 health facilities along with disease specific readiness for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes and cardiorespiratory diseases (CRDs) were assessed using service availability and readiness assessment manual of the World Health Organization (WHO). Health facilities were categorized into public and private facilities.Results: Out of a total of 940 health facilities assessed, private facilities showed higher availability of items of general service readiness, except for standard precautions for infection prevention, compared to public facilities. The multivariable adjusted regression coefficients for CVDs (β=2.87, 95%CI: 2.42-3.39), diabetes (β =3.02, 95%CI: 2.03-4.49) and CRDs (β=15.95, 95%CI: 4.61-55.13) at private facilities were higher than public hospitals. Health facilities located in hills had higher readiness index for CVDs (β=1.99, 95%CI: 1.02 - 1.39). Service readiness for CVDs (β=1.13, 95%CI: 1.04-1.23) and diabetes (β=1.78, 95%CI: 1.23-2.59) were higher in the urban municipalities than in rural municipalities. Finally, disease related services readiness index was sub-optimal with some degree of variation at the province level in Nepal. Province 2 for CVDs (β=0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-0.95), and province 4 (β =1.24, 95%CI: 1.07-1.43) and province 5 (β =1.17, 95%CI: 1.02-1.34) had higher readiness index compared to province 1.Conclusions: This study found a sub-optimal readiness of services related to three NCDs at the public facilities in Nepal. Compared to public facilities, private facilities showed higher readiness score for CVDs, diabetes and CRDs. To cope up with the growing burden of NCDs, urgent improvement in health services, particularly in public facilities are critical to manage common NCDs.

Readiness of Health Facilities to Provide Child Curative Care Services: Evidence Based on Bangladesh Health Facility Survey, 2014

Bangladesh is far away to achieve the target of sustainable development goal 3 (SDG 3). To reduce the child mortality, all sectors related to child health should be improved by taking appropriate actions. In this study, readiness of child curative care health facility services is explored. The readiness was not directly measured, it is measured based on the four domains of ten indicators following WHO guidelines. To create readiness index, equal weights are given to each domains of indicators and also to each indicators at each weighted domains for providing child curative care services. The major purpose of the study is to find out the determinants of readiness of health facilities to provide the child curative care services. The 2014 Bangladesh Health Facility Survey (BHFS) data have been used to serve the purpose. The ordinal logistic regression model with proportional odds assumption has been applied in the study. Type of facility, health provider status, division, qualification of health provider and basic amenities in facility are found to have significant effects on readiness index. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 68(1): 29-35, 2020 (January)