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Project
Feasibility of patient-centred care approaches at primary health care level in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Uganda
Background
Primary health care services in sub-Saharan African countries offer the first point of contact for the majority of the population seeking health care, especially in rural areas and for the poor in society. However, they still remain under-resourced and fragmented. This brings out the need to ensure that available resources are allocated more efficiently, to provide services that are of good quality, and in line with the needs and preferences of the users. A changing burden of disease from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, combined with new emerging diseases like Ebola, are some of the health issues that health systems in sub-Saharan Africa need to respond to. Patient centred-care (PCC) offers an opportunity for African health systems to build on progress made in primary health care reforms and universal health coverage initiatives, by involving both providers and consumers of services in the identification and implementation of health goals. Considering different social, political, and economic differences in sub-Saharan African countries, patient-centred care strategies and initiatives need to be contextualised for them to be feasible.
Objectives
The main aim of the study is to explore current initiatives, opportunities and challenges in the delivery of PCC in primary health care services in Uganda. Consequently, an intervention will be designed and implemented to assess the impact of PCC approaches on the quality of versatile health care services provided at both public and private primary care facilities.
Primary health care services in sub-Saharan African countries offer the first point of contact for the majority of the population seeking health care, especially in rural areas and for the poor in society. However, they still remain under-resourced and fragmented. This brings out the need to ensure that available resources are allocated more efficiently, to provide services that are of good quality, and in line with the needs and preferences of the users. A changing burden of disease from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, combined with new emerging diseases like Ebola, are some of the health issues that health systems in sub-Saharan Africa need to respond to. Patient centred-care (PCC) offers an opportunity for African health systems to build on progress made in primary health care reforms and universal health coverage initiatives, by involving both providers and consumers of services in the identification and implementation of health goals. Considering different social, political, and economic differences in sub-Saharan African countries, patient-centred care strategies and initiatives need to be contextualised for them to be feasible.
Objectives
The main aim of the study is to explore current initiatives, opportunities and challenges in the delivery of PCC in primary health care services in Uganda. Consequently, an intervention will be designed and implemented to assess the impact of PCC approaches on the quality of versatile health care services provided at both public and private primary care facilities.
Date:12 Jan 2017 → Today
Keywords:B680-public-health