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Olago A, Suharlim C, Hussein S, Njuguna D, Macharia S, Muñoz R, Opuni M, Castro H, Uzamukunda C, Walker D, Birse S, Wangia E, Gilmartin C. The costs and financing needs of delivering Kenya's primary health care service package. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1226163. [PMID: 37900028 PMCID: PMC10613057 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1226163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction For many Kenyans, high-quality primary health care (PHC) services remain unavailable, inaccessible, or unaffordable. To address these challenges, the Government of Kenya has committed to strengthening the country's PHC system by introducing a comprehensive package of PHC services and promoting the efficient use of existing resources through its primary care network approach. Our study estimated the costs of delivering PHC services in public sector facilities in seven sub-counties, comparing actual costs to normative costs of delivering Kenya's PHC package and determining the corresponding financial resource gap to achieving universal coverage. Methods We collected primary data from a sample of 71 facilities, including dispensaries, health centers, and sub-county hospitals. Data on facility-level recurrent costs were collected retrospectively for 1 year (2018-2019) to estimate economic costs from the public sector perspective. Total actual costs from the sampled facilities were extrapolated using service utilization data from the Kenya Health Information System for the universe of facilities to obtain sub-county and national PHC cost estimates. Normative costs were estimated based on standard treatment protocols and the populations in need of PHC in each sub-county. Results and discussion The average actual PHC cost per capita ranged from US$ 9.3 in Ganze sub-county to US$ 47.2 in Mukurweini while the normative cost per capita ranged from US$ 31.8 in Ganze to US$ 42.4 in Kibwezi West. With the exception of Mukurweini (where there was no financial resource gap), closing the resource gap would require significant increases in PHC expenditures and/or improvements to increase the efficiency of PHC service delivery such as improved staff distribution, increased demand for services and patient loads per clinical staff, and reduced bypass to higher level facilities. This study offers valuable evidence on sub-national cost variations and resource requirements to guide the implementation of the government's PHC reforms and resource mobilization efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Olago
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Department of Primary Health Care, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Christian Suharlim
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Management Sciences for Health, Health Economics and Financing, Arlington, VA, United States
| | - Salim Hussein
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Department of Primary Health Care, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Njuguna
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Health Economist, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stephen Macharia
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Director of Planning, Chief Economist and Head of Planning, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Hector Castro
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Management Sciences for Health, Health Economics and Financing, Arlington, VA, United States
| | - Clarisse Uzamukunda
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Independent Consultant, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Damian Walker
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Management Sciences for Health, Health Economics and Financing, Arlington, VA, United States
| | - Sarah Birse
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Management Sciences for Health, Health Economics and Financing, Arlington, VA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Wangia
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Department of Health Financing, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Colin Gilmartin
- Management Sciences for Health, Medford, MA, United States
- Management Sciences for Health, Health Economics and Financing, Arlington, VA, United States
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Mwangi W, Kaddu R, Njoki Muiru C, Simiyu N, Patel V, Sulemanji D, Otieno D, Okelo S, Chikophe I, Pisani L, Dona DPG, Beane A, Haniffa R, Misango D, Waweru-Siika W. Organisation, staffing and resources of critical care units in Kenya. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284245. [PMID: 37498872 PMCID: PMC10374136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the organisation, staffing patterns and resources available in critical care units in Kenya. The secondary objective was to explore variations between units in the public and private sectors. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was used to collect data on organisational characteristics (model of care, type of unit, quality- related activities, use of electronic medical records and participation in the national ICU registry), staffing and available resources for monitoring, ventilation and general critical care. RESULTS The survey included 60 of 75 identified units (80% response rate), with 43% (n = 23) located in government facilities. A total of 598 critical care beds were reported with a median of 6 beds (interquartile range [IQR] 5-11) per unit, with 26% beds (n = 157) being non functional. The proportion of ICU beds to total hospital beds was 3.8% (IQR 1.9-10.4). Most of the units (80%, n = 48) were mixed/general units with an open model of care (60%, n = 36). Consultants-in-charge were mainly anesthesiologists (69%, n = 37). The nurse-to-bed ratio was predominantly 1:2 with half of the nurses formally trained in critical care. Most units (83%, n = 47) had a dedicated ventilator for each bed, however 63% (n = 39) lacked high flow nasal therapy. While basic multiparametric monitoring was ubiquitous, invasive blood pressure measurement capacity was low (3% of beds, IQR 0-81%), and capnography moderate (31% of beds, IQR 0-77%). Blood gas analysers were widely available (93%, n = 56), with 80% reported as functional. Differences between the public and private sector were narrow. CONCLUSION This study shows an established critical care network in Kenya, in terms of staffing density, availability of basic monitoring and ventilation resources. The public and private sector are equally represented albeit with modest differences. Potential areas for improvement include training, use of invasive blood pressure and functionality of blood gas analysers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wambui Mwangi
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Nyeri County Referral Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ronnie Kaddu
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Intensive Care Unit, Aga Khan Mombasa Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Carolyne Njoki Muiru
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Egerton University Surgery Department, Nakuru Level V ICU, Nakuru, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, AAR Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nabukwangwa Simiyu
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Kisii County Referral Hospital, Kisii, Kenya
| | - Vishal Patel
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Demet Sulemanji
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, AAR Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dorothy Otieno
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stephen Okelo
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Maseno University, Maseno, Kenya
| | - Idris Chikophe
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Luigi Pisani
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Abi Beane
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Rashan Haniffa
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - David Misango
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Wangari Waweru-Siika
- Kenya Critical Care Registry, Critical Care Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Anesthesia, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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Odero SA, Mwangi P, Odhiambo R, Mumbua Nzioka B, Shumba C, Ndirangu-Mugo E, Abubakar A. Psychometric evaluation of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 among community health volunteers and nurses/midwives in Kenya following a nation-wide telephonic survey. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1123839. [PMID: 37324823 PMCID: PMC10264862 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1123839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nurses/midwives and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are exposed to chronic stressors putting them at risk of developing mental health problems. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited empirical evidence of the burden of mental health problems among health care workers partly due to the lack of adequately standardized and validated measures for use among health care workers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to perform the psychometric evaluation of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 administered to nurses/midwives and CHVs across 47 counties in Kenya. Methods Between June and November 2021, a national survey on mental well-being and resilience among nurses/midwives and CHVs was conducted via telephone interviews. The survey had a total sample size of 1907 nurses/midwives and 2027 CHVs. Cronbach's alpha and MacDonalds' omega were used to evaluate the scale's internal consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the one-factor structure of the scales. Multi-group CFA was applied to evaluate the generalizability of the scales across the Swahili and English versions, and among male and female health workers. The Spearman correlation was used to assess the tools' divergent and convergent validity. Results The internal consistency of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 was good, with alpha and omega values above 0.7 across study samples. CFA results indicated a one-factor structure of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 for both nurses/midwives and CHVs. Multi-group CFA showed that both scales were unidimensional across both language and sex. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were significantly negatively correlated with resilience and work engagement, supporting divergent validity. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were also significantly positively correlated with resilience and work engagement, supporting divergent validity. Conclusion The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are unidimensional, reliable, and valid tools for screening depression and anxiety among nurses/midwives and CHVs. The tools can be administered in a similar population or study setting using either Swahili or English.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Mwangi
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rachel Odhiambo
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Constance Shumba
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Amina Abubakar
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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Wang P, Li S, Wang Z, Jiao M, Zhang Y, Huang W, Ning N, Gao L, Shan L, Li Y, Wu Q. Perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system among the insured: a mixed methods research of a northern city in China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1043153. [PMID: 37139382 PMCID: PMC10149763 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1043153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system among the insured not only reflect the system's performance but also the public's basic medical insurance policy literacy, valuable information for countries that have entered the stage of deepening reform. This study aims to examine the factors that affect the perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system in China, diagnose the key problems, and propose corresponding measures for improvement. Methods A mixed method design was used. Data for the quantitative study were obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey (n = 1,045) of residents of Harbin who had enrolled for basic medical insurance system. A quota sampling method was further adopted. A multivariate logistic regression model was then employed to identify the factors influencing the perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system, followed by semi-structured interviews with 30 conveniently selected key informants. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Results Approximately 44% of insured persons reported low perceptions of benefits. The logistic regression model showed that low perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system was positively correlated with the experience of daily drug purchases (OR = 1.967), perceptions of recognition with basic medical insurance system (OR = 1.948), perceptions of the financial burden of participation costs (OR = 1.887), perceptions of the convenience of using basic medical insurance for medical treatment (OR = 1.770), perceptions of the financial burden of daily drug purchases costs (OR = 1.721), perceptions of the financial burden of hospitalization costs (OR = 1.570), and type of basic medical insurance system (OR = 1.456). The results of the qualitative analysis showed that the key problem areas of perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system were: (I) system design of basic medical insurance; (II) intuitive cognition of the insured; (III) rational cognition of the insured; and (IV) the system environment. Conclusions Improving the perceptions of the benefits of the basic medical insurance system of the insured requires joint efforts in improving system design and implementation, exploring effective publicity methods of basic medical insurance system information, supporting public policy literacy, and promoting the health system environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuyi Li
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhizhen Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Mingli Jiao
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Research Center of Health Policy and Management, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuchao Zhang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Weiqi Huang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ning Ning
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lijun Gao
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Linghan Shan
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Research Center of Health Policy and Management, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qunhong Wu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Mbau R, Musiega A, Nyawira L, Tsofa B, Mulwa A, Molyneux S, Maina I, Jemutai J, Normand C, Hanson K, Barasa E. Analysing the Efficiency of Health Systems: A Systematic Review of the Literature. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2023; 21:205-224. [PMID: 36575334 PMCID: PMC9931792 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-022-00785-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficiency refers the use of resources in ways that optimise desired outcomes. Health system efficiency is a priority concern for policy makers globally as countries aim to achieve universal health coverage, and face the additional challenge of an aging population. Efficiency analysis in the health sector has typically focused on the efficiency of healthcare facilities (hospitals, primary healthcare facilities), with few studies focusing on system level (national or sub-national) efficiency. We carried out a thematic review of literature that assessed the efficiency of health systems at the national and sub-national level. METHODS We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Google scholar between 2000 and 2021 and a manual search of relevant papers selected from their reference lists. A total of 131 papers were included. We analysed and synthesised evidence from the selected papers using a thematic approach (selecting, sorting, coding and charting collected data according to identified key issues and themes). FINDINGS There were more publications from high- and upper middle-income countries (53%) than from low-income and lower middle-income countries. There were also more publications focusing on national level (60%) compared to sub-national health systems' efficiency. Only 6% of studies used either qualitative methods or mixed methods while 94% used quantitative approaches. Data envelopment analysis, a non-parametric method, was the most common methodological approach used, followed by stochastic frontier analysis, a parametric method. A range of regression methods were used to identify the determinants of health system efficiency. While studies used a range of inputs, these generally considered the building blocks of health systems, health risk factors, and social determinants of health. Outputs used in efficiency analysis could be classified as either intermediate health service outputs (e.g., number of health facility visits), single health outcomes (e.g., infant mortality rate) or composite indices of either intermediate outputs of health outcomes (e.g., Health Adjusted Life Expectancy). Factors that were found to affect health system efficiency include demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population, macro-economic characteristics of the national and sub-national regions, population health and wellbeing, the governance and political characteristics of these regions, and health system characteristics. CONCLUSION This review highlights the limited evidence on health system efficiency, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It also reveals the dearth of efficiency studies that use mixed methods approaches by incorporating qualitative inquiry. The review offers insights on the drivers of the efficiency of national and sub-national health systems, and highlights potential targets for reforms to improve health system efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahab Mbau
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anita Musiega
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lizah Nyawira
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Benjamin Tsofa
- Health Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Andrew Mulwa
- County Department of Health, Makueni County Government, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sassy Molyneux
- Health Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Isabel Maina
- Health Financing Department, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Julie Jemutai
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles Normand
- Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Cicely Saunders Institute, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Tweedie Model for Predicting Factors Associated with Distance Traveled to Access Inpatient Services in Kenya. JOURNAL OF PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/2706504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim. This study aims to examine which factors influence the distance traveled by patients for inpatient care in Kenya. Methods. We used data from the fourth round of the Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization survey. Our dependent variable was the self-reported distance traveled by patients to access inpatient care at public health facilities. As the clustered data were correlated, we used the generalized estimating equations approach with an exchangeable correlation under a Tweedie distribution. To select the best-fit covariates for predicting distance, we adopted a variable selection technique using the
and
criteria, wherein the lowest (highest) value for the former (latter) is preferred. Results. Using data for 451 participants from 47 counties, we found that three-fifths were admitted between 1 and 5 days, two-thirds resided in rural areas, and 90% were satisfied with the facilities’ service. Wealth quintiles were evenly distributed across respondents. Most admissions (81%) comprised
15,
65, and 25–54 years. Many households were of medium size (4–6 members) and had low education level (48%), and nine-tenths had no access to insurance. While two-thirds reported employment-based income, the same number reported not having cash to pay for inpatient services; 6 out of 10 paid over 3000 KES. Thus, differences in employment, ability to pay, and household size influence the distance traveled to access government healthcare facilities in Kenya. Interpretation. Low-income individuals more likely have large households and live in rural areas and, thus, are forced to travel farther to access inpatient care. Unlike the unemployed, the employed may have better socioeconomic status and possibly live near inpatient healthcare facilities, thereby explaining their short distances to access these services. Policymakers must support equal access to inpatient services, prioritize rural areas, open job opportunities, and encourage smaller families.
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