Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed; Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid; Talal Elfadil Mahi; Nada Jafar Osman; Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu; Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair; Rania Hassan Abdelgfour

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed, Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid, Talal Elfadil Mahi, Nada Jafar Osman, Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair, Rania Hassan Abdelgfour

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Received: 24 September 2018 Accepted: 8 April 2019 Published: 27 May 2019

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Abstract

Sudan public sectors’ has three levels of services delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary level intended for health facilities that provide the basic package of health services and supposed to be the first contact for seeking medical help, advices and referral to high specialized services. Therefore, coordination between these three levels is important. As well as bypassing primary care level results in overburdening of referral facilities, increasing cost for the patients and depreciating health care system in terms of manpower, equipment and resources. Information about the health services utilizations’ and it’s the associated factors will be useful for improving service delivery to achieve universal health coverage. This paper intended to explore the experiences of caretakers seeking care for their under-five children related in public PHC facilities in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. The study was descriptive cross-sectional applied qualitative research methods. Focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers who had experience with PHC services. Qualitative data was manually analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper revealed that the main reasons that force the respondents to bypass the primary health facilities and seek care directly from the hospitals were related to the quality of the provided services. Accessibility issues, affordability issues, lack of knowledge of existing services, inadequacy of drugs, health staff competency and proper referrals system which is crucial to a functioning PHC, also reported to be lacking. Also, in this paper the respondents recommend the expansion of health insurance services coverage, provision of ambulances to all PHC facilities. Therefore, this paper recommends to educate and sensitize the individuals, families and community on PHC services role as the first line of health services to increase their knowledge and create awareness of services provided at the PHC facilities. This will increase demand for and improve access to PHC services. Also, to strengthen the implementation and facilitate the monitoring and evaluation by the authorities at the different levels. To enhance role of health insurance fund as purchaser rather than services provider and breach of free health care policy jeopardized affordability of PHC services need urgent actions, and continuous professional development for the PHC healthcare providers which will contribute in improving performance and providing quality PHC, and building their capacity on management of the under-5 common illness and by strengthen the supportive supervision and monitoring.

Published in	Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
Page(s)	59-65
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Primary Health Care, Service Delivery Levels, Factors Associated with Bypassing Behaviour, Caretakers Experience, Adequacy of Services, Referral System, Quality Primary Health Care Services

References

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APA Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed, Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid, Talal Elfadil Mahi, Nada Jafar Osman, Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. (2019). Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Science Journal of Public Health, 7(2), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

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ACS Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed; Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid; Talal Elfadil Mahi; Nada Jafar Osman; Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Sci. J. Public Health 2019, 7(2), 59-65. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

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AMA Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed, Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid, Talal Elfadil Mahi, Nada Jafar Osman, Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Sci J Public Health. 2019;7(2):59-65. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15,
  author = {Malaz Elbashir Ahmed and Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid and Talal Elfadil Mahi and Nada Jafar Osman and Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu and Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair and Rania Hassan Abdelgfour},
  title = {Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {59-65},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20190702.15},
  abstract = {Sudan public sectors’ has three levels of services delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary level intended for health facilities that provide the basic package of health services and supposed to be the first contact for seeking medical help, advices and referral to high specialized services. Therefore, coordination between these three levels is important. As well as bypassing primary care level results in overburdening of referral facilities, increasing cost for the patients and depreciating health care system in terms of manpower, equipment and resources. Information about the health services utilizations’ and it’s the associated factors will be useful for improving service delivery to achieve universal health coverage. This paper intended to explore the experiences of caretakers seeking care for their under-five children related in public PHC facilities in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. The study was descriptive cross-sectional applied qualitative research methods. Focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers who had experience with PHC services. Qualitative data was manually analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper revealed that the main reasons that force the respondents to bypass the primary health facilities and seek care directly from the hospitals were related to the quality of the provided services. Accessibility issues, affordability issues, lack of knowledge of existing services, inadequacy of drugs, health staff competency and proper referrals system which is crucial to a functioning PHC, also reported to be lacking. Also, in this paper the respondents recommend the expansion of health insurance services coverage, provision of ambulances to all PHC facilities. Therefore, this paper recommends to educate and sensitize the individuals, families and community on PHC services role as the first line of health services to increase their knowledge and create awareness of services provided at the PHC facilities. This will increase demand for and improve access to PHC services. Also, to strengthen the implementation and facilitate the monitoring and evaluation by the authorities at the different levels. To enhance role of health insurance fund as purchaser rather than services provider and breach of free health care policy jeopardized affordability of PHC services need urgent actions, and continuous professional development for the PHC healthcare providers which will contribute in improving performance and providing quality PHC, and building their capacity on management of the under-5 common illness and by strengthen the supportive supervision and monitoring.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015
AU  - Malaz Elbashir Ahmed
AU  - Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid
AU  - Talal Elfadil Mahi
AU  - Nada Jafar Osman
AU  - Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu
AU  - Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair
AU  - Rania Hassan Abdelgfour
Y1  - 2019/05/27
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 59
EP  - 65
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
AB  - Sudan public sectors’ has three levels of services delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary level intended for health facilities that provide the basic package of health services and supposed to be the first contact for seeking medical help, advices and referral to high specialized services. Therefore, coordination between these three levels is important. As well as bypassing primary care level results in overburdening of referral facilities, increasing cost for the patients and depreciating health care system in terms of manpower, equipment and resources. Information about the health services utilizations’ and it’s the associated factors will be useful for improving service delivery to achieve universal health coverage. This paper intended to explore the experiences of caretakers seeking care for their under-five children related in public PHC facilities in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. The study was descriptive cross-sectional applied qualitative research methods. Focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers who had experience with PHC services. Qualitative data was manually analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper revealed that the main reasons that force the respondents to bypass the primary health facilities and seek care directly from the hospitals were related to the quality of the provided services. Accessibility issues, affordability issues, lack of knowledge of existing services, inadequacy of drugs, health staff competency and proper referrals system which is crucial to a functioning PHC, also reported to be lacking. Also, in this paper the respondents recommend the expansion of health insurance services coverage, provision of ambulances to all PHC facilities. Therefore, this paper recommends to educate and sensitize the individuals, families and community on PHC services role as the first line of health services to increase their knowledge and create awareness of services provided at the PHC facilities. This will increase demand for and improve access to PHC services. Also, to strengthen the implementation and facilitate the monitoring and evaluation by the authorities at the different levels. To enhance role of health insurance fund as purchaser rather than services provider and breach of free health care policy jeopardized affordability of PHC services need urgent actions, and continuous professional development for the PHC healthcare providers which will contribute in improving performance and providing quality PHC, and building their capacity on management of the under-5 common illness and by strengthen the supportive supervision and monitoring.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed

Free Lance Community Medicine Consultant, Khartoum, Sudan
Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid

HIV Prevention Program, United Nations Population Fund, Khartoum, Sudan
Talal Elfadil Mahi

Community Medicine, National Health Insurance Fund, Khartoum, Sudan
Nada Jafar Osman

Community Medicine, Primary Health Care Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu

Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fashir University, Al-Fashir, Sudan
Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair

Continuous Professional Development Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
Rania Hassan Abdelgfour

HIV Prevention Program, United Nations Population Fund, Khartoum, Sudan

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APA Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed, Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid, Talal Elfadil Mahi, Nada Jafar Osman, Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. (2019). Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Science Journal of Public Health, 7(2), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

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ACS Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed; Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid; Talal Elfadil Mahi; Nada Jafar Osman; Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Sci. J. Public Health 2019, 7(2), 59-65. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

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AMA Style

Malaz Elbashir Ahmed, Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid, Talal Elfadil Mahi, Nada Jafar Osman, Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu, et al. Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. Sci J Public Health. 2019;7(2):59-65. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15,
  author = {Malaz Elbashir Ahmed and Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid and Talal Elfadil Mahi and Nada Jafar Osman and Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu and Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair and Rania Hassan Abdelgfour},
  title = {Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {59-65},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20190702.15},
  abstract = {Sudan public sectors’ has three levels of services delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary level intended for health facilities that provide the basic package of health services and supposed to be the first contact for seeking medical help, advices and referral to high specialized services. Therefore, coordination between these three levels is important. As well as bypassing primary care level results in overburdening of referral facilities, increasing cost for the patients and depreciating health care system in terms of manpower, equipment and resources. Information about the health services utilizations’ and it’s the associated factors will be useful for improving service delivery to achieve universal health coverage. This paper intended to explore the experiences of caretakers seeking care for their under-five children related in public PHC facilities in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. The study was descriptive cross-sectional applied qualitative research methods. Focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers who had experience with PHC services. Qualitative data was manually analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper revealed that the main reasons that force the respondents to bypass the primary health facilities and seek care directly from the hospitals were related to the quality of the provided services. Accessibility issues, affordability issues, lack of knowledge of existing services, inadequacy of drugs, health staff competency and proper referrals system which is crucial to a functioning PHC, also reported to be lacking. Also, in this paper the respondents recommend the expansion of health insurance services coverage, provision of ambulances to all PHC facilities. Therefore, this paper recommends to educate and sensitize the individuals, families and community on PHC services role as the first line of health services to increase their knowledge and create awareness of services provided at the PHC facilities. This will increase demand for and improve access to PHC services. Also, to strengthen the implementation and facilitate the monitoring and evaluation by the authorities at the different levels. To enhance role of health insurance fund as purchaser rather than services provider and breach of free health care policy jeopardized affordability of PHC services need urgent actions, and continuous professional development for the PHC healthcare providers which will contribute in improving performance and providing quality PHC, and building their capacity on management of the under-5 common illness and by strengthen the supportive supervision and monitoring.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Experiences of Caretakers Seeking Care for Their Under-five Children Related to Public Primary Health Care in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015
AU  - Malaz Elbashir Ahmed
AU  - Khalid Fadl Alla Khalid
AU  - Talal Elfadil Mahi
AU  - Nada Jafar Osman
AU  - Ibrahim Ismail Mohammed Abu
AU  - Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair
AU  - Rania Hassan Abdelgfour
Y1  - 2019/05/27
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 59
EP  - 65
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20190702.15
AB  - Sudan public sectors’ has three levels of services delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary level intended for health facilities that provide the basic package of health services and supposed to be the first contact for seeking medical help, advices and referral to high specialized services. Therefore, coordination between these three levels is important. As well as bypassing primary care level results in overburdening of referral facilities, increasing cost for the patients and depreciating health care system in terms of manpower, equipment and resources. Information about the health services utilizations’ and it’s the associated factors will be useful for improving service delivery to achieve universal health coverage. This paper intended to explore the experiences of caretakers seeking care for their under-five children related in public PHC facilities in Sharg-Alneel Locality, 2015. The study was descriptive cross-sectional applied qualitative research methods. Focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers who had experience with PHC services. Qualitative data was manually analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper revealed that the main reasons that force the respondents to bypass the primary health facilities and seek care directly from the hospitals were related to the quality of the provided services. Accessibility issues, affordability issues, lack of knowledge of existing services, inadequacy of drugs, health staff competency and proper referrals system which is crucial to a functioning PHC, also reported to be lacking. Also, in this paper the respondents recommend the expansion of health insurance services coverage, provision of ambulances to all PHC facilities. Therefore, this paper recommends to educate and sensitize the individuals, families and community on PHC services role as the first line of health services to increase their knowledge and create awareness of services provided at the PHC facilities. This will increase demand for and improve access to PHC services. Also, to strengthen the implementation and facilitate the monitoring and evaluation by the authorities at the different levels. To enhance role of health insurance fund as purchaser rather than services provider and breach of free health care policy jeopardized affordability of PHC services need urgent actions, and continuous professional development for the PHC healthcare providers which will contribute in improving performance and providing quality PHC, and building their capacity on management of the under-5 common illness and by strengthen the supportive supervision and monitoring.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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