1.
Baroudi, Mazen, et al.
(författare)
Men and sexual and reproductive healthcare in the Nordic countries : a scoping review
2021
Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 11:9
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat) abstract
Context: Men generally seek healthcare less often than women and, other than traditional gender norms, less is known about the explanation. The aim was to identify knowledge gaps and factors influencing men regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRHC) in the Nordic countries.Methods: We searched PubMed and SveMed+ for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2010 and May 2020. The analyses identified factors influencing men’s experiences of and access to SRHC.Results: The majority of the 68 articles included focused on pregnancy, birth, infertility and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. During pregnancy and childbirth, men were treated as accompanying partners rather than individuals with their own needs. The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers were crucial for their ability to provide SRHC and for the experiences of men. Organisational obstacles, such as women-centred SRHC and no assigned healthcare profession for men’s sexual and reproductive health issues, hindered men’s access to SRHC. Lastly, the literature rarely discussed the impact of health policies on men’s access to SRHC.Conclusions: The literature lacked the perspectives of specific groups of men such as migrants, men who have sex with men and transmen, as well as the experiences of men in SRHC related to sexual function, contraceptive use and gender-based violence. These knowledge gaps, taken together with the lack of a clear entry point for men into SRHC, indicate the necessity of an improved health and medical education of healthcare providers, as well as of health system interventions.
2.
Sirili, Nathanael, 1984-
(författare)
Health workforce development post-1990s health sector reforms : the case of medical doctors in Tanzania
2018
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Background: Health systems in many low- and middle-income countries suffer from critical shortages and inequitable geographical distribution of the health workforce. Since the 1940s, many low- and middle-income countries have passed through different regimes of health sector reforms; the most recent one was in the 1990s. Tanzania is a good example of these countries. From the 1990s, Tanzania has been implementing the third generation of health sector reforms. This thesis analysed the health workforce development following the 1990s health sector reforms in Tanzania.Methods: An exploratory case study employing both quantitative and qualitative research approaches was used to analyse the training, deployment, and retention of medical doctors about two decades following the 1990s healthsector reforms. The quantitative approach involved analysis of graduation books and records from the Medical Council of Tanganyika to document the number of doctors who graduated locally and abroad, a countrywide survey of available doctors as of July 2011, and analysis of staffing levels to document the number of doctors recommended for the health sector as of 2012. The gap between the number of available and required doctors was computed by subtracting available from required in that period. The qualitative approach involved key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a documents review. Key informants were recruited from districts, regions, government ministries, national hospitals, medical training institutions in both the public and private sectors, Christian Social Services Commission and the Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania. Focused group discussion participants were members of Council Health Management Teams in three selected districts. Documents reviewed included country human resources for health profiles, health sector strategic plans, human resources for health strategic plans and published and grey literature on health sector reforms, health workforce training, and deployment and retention documentation. For the training, analysis of data was done thematically with the guide of policy analysis framework. For deployment and retention, qualitative content analysis was adopted.Results: Re-introduction of the private sector in the form of public-private partnerships has boosted the number of doctors graduating annually sevenfold in 2010 compared to that in 1992. Despite the increase in the number of doctors graduating annually, their training faces some challenges, including the erosion of university autonomies prescribed by the law; coercive admission of many medical students greater than the capacity of the medical schools, thus threatening the quality of the graduates; and lack of coordination between trainers and employers. Tanzania requires a minimum of 3,326 doctors to attain the minimum threshold of 0.1 doctor per 1,000 population, as recommended by the World Health Organization. However, a countrywide survey has revealed the existence of around 1,300 doctors working in the health sector—almost the same as the number before the reforms. Failure to offer employment to all graduating doctors, uncertainties around the first appointment, failure to respect doctors’ preferences for first appointment workplaces, and the feelings of insecurity in going to districts are among the major challenges haunting the deployment of doctors in Tanzania. For those who went to the districts, the issues of unfavourable working conditions, unsupportive environment in the community, and resource scarcity have all challenged their retention.Conclusions: The development of human resources for health after the 1990s health sector reforms have to some extent been contradictory. On the one hand, Tanzania has succeeded in training more doctors than the minimum it requires, despite some challenges facing the training institutions. On the other hand, failure to deploy and retain an adequate number of doctors in its health system has left the country to continue suffering from a shortage and inequitable distribution of doctors in favour of urban areas. For health sector reforms to bring successes with minimal challenges in health workforce development, a holistic approach that targets doctors’ training, deployment, and retention is recommended.
3.
Richter Sundberg, Linda, Ph D, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
How can we strengthen mental health services in Swedish youth clinics? A health policy and systems study protocol
2021
Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 11:10, s. e048922-e048922
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Introduction: Strengthening first-line mental healthcare services for youth remains a priority for the Swedish government. The government is currently investigating how different sectors involved can be strengthened, butevidence is scarce. Youth clinics play a key role in these discussions, being one of the most trusted services for youth. However, analysis of organisational functions andcoordination with other services is important to strengthen youth clinics’ role in first-line mental healthcare. This study investigates these challenges and aims to analysethe integration of mental healthcare within youth clinics to identify strategies to strengthen first-line mental healthcare for youth in Sweden.Methods and analysis: This study adopts a health policyand systems approach. In the first phase, a formative realist evaluation is conducted to ascertain what works in terms of integrating mental healthcare services within youth clinics, for what type of youth subpopulations and under what circumstances. National-level stakeholders will be interviewed to elicit the programme theory that explains how the intervention is supposed to work. The programme theory will then be tested in three–five cases. The cases will be comprised of youth clinics and their stakeholders. Quantitative and qualitative information will be gathered,including via visual methodologies and questionnaires. The second phase includes a concept mapping study, engaging stakeholders and young people to build consensuson strategies to strengthen the integration of menta lhealthcare into youth clinics.
4.
Trygg Fagrell, Nadja, 1988-
(författare)
Knowledge diversification in public health through intersectionality
2022
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
BackgroundKnowledges about health inequalities and their causes are a central concern in public health. Generally, these relate to the social patterning of health and the forces that affect health conditions in daily life. However, public health decision making has been criticized for excluding knowledges of particular importance for health equity. This poses a challenge since knowledges and understandings shape what policies and interventions are viewed as relevant, reasonable or even possible to think of. If certain knowledges are left out, there is a risk that both knowledge making and decision making with respect to health inequalities will exclude important measures.Since intersectionality encompasses a wide range of knowledge-making practices centered around social justice, it may contribute diverse knowledges of importance to health equity. Intersectionality has recently gained traction within public health and represents an important shift in conceptualizing how different dimensions of inequalities, such as sexism, classism and racism, interlock to generate social exclusion and marginalization instead of working separately, one by one.AimThe overall aim of this thesis is to explore the possibility of using intersectionality as a tool for knowledge diversification within public health. The specific research question is:What knowledges and understandings of health inequalities do the inter-categorical (studies I and II) and post-categorical (studies III and IV) approaches to intersectionality contribute and how are such contributions made?Material and methodsThe method of the cover story can be understood as a way of studying science or as a retrospective self-reflection based on the four individual studies, making up the material of the thesis. Specifically, the material was reassembled and retold in order to show how certain intersectional approaches generate different types of knowledges and understandings of health inequalities by involving different ways of operationalizing inequalities and managing categories.In study I, a scoping review of the quantitative international literature was undertaken with the aim of mapping and describing inter-categorical inequalities in mental health. Study II was a quantitative analysis of a population-based survey with the aim of mapping inter-categorical inequalities in mental health in the Swedish adult population. Study III was a policy analysis of a government bill that proposes a national strategy on alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling with the study aim to examine the equity-perspective of the bill through an intersectional lens. Study IV was a post-qualitative inquiry based on participatory observations and interviews with the study aim to explore the becoming of social divisions among seniors as they participate in health-promoting activities.ResultsThe inter-categorical approach to intersectionality (applied in studies I and II) generated knowledges about health inequalities as quantitative mean differences between population groups, and highlighted unexpected patterns and unpredictable inequalities in mental health. This implies the importance of building responsive systems that regularly monitor inequalities across different intersectional positions and contexts so that services can be directed and adapted to those most in need.The post-categorical approach to intersectionality (applied in studies III and IV) generated knowledges about health inequalities as processes of marginalization, resistance, exclusion, or inclusion, and highlighted difficult trade-offs with respect to public health policy and practice. This enables a transformative way of thinking by providing the possibility of doing things differently in everyday practices in which marginalization and resistance becomes.ConclusionDifferent approaches to intersectionality contribute diverse knowledges and understandings about health inequalities. This is important since it expands the possibilities for fair decision making and health equity through different outlooks on social justice. Knowledge diversification through intersectionality could be particularly useful to release tension due to the restrictive forces of public health decision making and to increase accountability for the multiple social interests of the population. Thus, it has the potential to make public health decision making more flexible, transparent, reflexive, and democratic.
5.
Hernández, Alison, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
Supporting the performance of rural nurses : a concept mapping study with regional health system actors in Guatemala
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Background: The performance of front-line health workers is critical for improving the health of vulnerable populations. Performance is a complex behavior generated through interactions between health workers, the health system and communities served. In Guatemala, where front-line nurses serve rural communities with great health needs, a concept mapping study was carried out with actors from different levels of a regional health system to develop an integrated view on how performance can be supported in this setting.Methods: The concept mapping process began with four sessions engaging a total of 93 regional and district managers, and primary and secondary care health workers in generating ideas on actions needed to support nurses’ performance. Ideas were consolidated into 30 action items, which were sorted by 12 managers and rated by a total of 135 managers and health workers from different levels. Maps depicting domains of action and dynamics in sub-groups’ interests were generated using a sequence of multivariate statistical analyses and were interpreted by regional managers.Results: The combined input of regional health system actors provided a multi-faceted view of actions needed to support performance, which were organized in six domains, including: Communication and coordination, Tools to orient work, Organizational climate of support, Motivation through recognition, Professional development and Skills development. The nature of relationships across hierarchical levels was identified as a crosscutting theme. Pattern matching and go-zone maps depicted dynamics in the interests of sub-groups of actors, indicating directions for action based on areas of consensus and difference.Conclusions: This study indicates that rural nurses’ performance is interconnected with the performance of other actors in the regional health system who require support, including managers and community-level collaborators. Organizational climate is critical for making rural nurses feel supported, and the nature of relationships across levels shapes the way actions to support performance are implemented and received. The participatory nature of the conceptmapping process enables regional health system actors to collaborate in co-production of context-specific knowledge needed to guide efforts to strengthen performance.
6.
Sundqvist, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
The association between social support and the mental health of social workers and police officers who work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children’s forced repatriation : a Swedish experience
2018
Ingår i: International Journal of Mental Health. - : Routledge. - 0020-7411 .- 1557-9328. ; 47:1, s. 3-25
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of social support and its association with mental health amongst social workers and police officers in forced repatriation work of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children. Nationally distributed surveys to social workers and police officers with and without experience of forced repatriation were used, measured by an abbreviated version of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI), and analyzed by univariate and multivariable regression models. Social workers in forced repatriation showed significantly poorer mental health than other social workers, but simultaneously relatively high access to social support. Irrespective of working with forced repatriation, police officers reported relatively high access to social support, but no difference in mental health. Furthermore, low levels of satisfaction with social interaction and close emotional support increased the odds of psychological disturbances for police officers in forced repatriation. Findings are discussed with special regard to the complexity of forced repatriation, particularly when children are the focus.
7.
Goicolea, Isabel, et al.
(författare)
Mechanisms for achieving adolescent-friendly services : a realist evaluation approach
2012
Ingår i: Global Health Action. - : Co-Action Publishing. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 5, s. 18748-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Background: Despite evidence showing that adolescent-friendly health services (AFSs) increase young people's access to these services, health systems across the world are failing to integrate this approach.In Latin America, policies aimed at strengthening AFS abound. However, such services are offered only in a limited number of sites, and providers' attitudes and respect for confidentiality have not been addressed to a sufficient extent.Methods: The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms that triggered the transformation of an 'ordinary' health care facility into an AFS in Ecuador. For this purpose, a realist evaluation approach was used in order to analyse three well-functioning AFSs. Information was gathered at the national level and from each of the settings including: (i) statistical information and unpublished reports; (ii) in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with policy makers, health care providers, users and adolescents participating in youth organisations and (iii) observations at the health care facilities. Thematic analysis was carried out, driven by the realist evaluation approach, namely exploring the connections between mechanisms, contexts and outcomes.Results: The results highlighted that the development of the AFSs was mediated by four mechanisms: grounded self-confidence in trying new things, legitimacy, a transformative process and an integral approach to adolescents. Along this process, contextual factors at the national and institutional levels were further explored.Conclusion: The Ministry of Health of Ecuador, based on the New Guidelines for Comprehensive Care of Adolescent Health, has started the scaling up of AFSs. Our research points towards the need to recognise and incorporate these mechanisms as part of the implementation strategy from the very beginning of the process.Although contextually limited to Ecuador, many mechanisms and good practices in these AFS may be relevant to the Latin American setting and elsewhere.
8.
Maluka, Stephen, 1978-
(författare)
Strengthening fairness, transparency and accountability in health care priority setting at district level in Tanzania : opportunities, challenges and the way forward
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Background During the 1990s, Tanzania, like many other developing countries, adopted health sector reforms. The most common policy change under health sector reforms has been decentralisation, which involves the transfer of power and authority from the central levels to the local governments. However, while decentralisation of health care planning and priority-setting in Tanzania gained currency in the last decade, its performance has, so far, been less than satisfactory. In a five-year EU-supported project, which started in 2006, ways of strengthening fairness and accountability in priority-setting in district health management were studied through action research. As part of this overall project, this doctoral thesis aims to analyse the existing health care organisation and management systems, and explore the potential and challenges of implementing Accountability for Reasonableness approach to priority setting in Tanzania. Methods A qualitative case study in Mbarali district formed the basis of exploring the socio-political and institutional contexts within which health care decision-making takes place. The thesis also explores how the Accountability for Reasonableness intervention was shaped, enabled and constrained by the interaction between the contexts and mechanisms. Key informant interviews were conducted with the Council Health Management Team, local government officials, and other stakeholders, using a semi-structured interview guide. Relevant documents were also gathered and group priority-setting processes in the district were observed. Main findings The study revealed that, despite the obvious national rhetoric on decentralisation, actual practice in the district involved little community participation. The findings showed that decentralisation, in whatever form, does not automatically provide space for community engagement. The assumption that devolution to local government promotes transparency, accountability and community participation, is far from reality. In addition, the thesis found that while the Accountability for Reasonableness approach to priority setting was perceived to be helpful in strengthening transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement and fairness, integrating the innovation into the current district health system was challenging. Conclusion This thesis underscores the idea that greater involvement and accountability among local actors may increase the legitimacy and fairness of priority-setting decisions. A broader and more detailed analysis of health system elements, and socio-cultural context, can lead to better prediction of the effects of the innovation, pinpoint stakeholders’ concerns, and thereby illuminate areas requiring special attention in fostering sustainability. Additionally, the thesis stresses the need to recognise and deal with power asymmetries among various actors in priority-setting contexts.
9.
Probandari, Ari, 1975-
(författare)
Revisiting the choice : to involve hospitals in the partnership for tuberculosis control in Indonesia
2010
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in many low- and middle-income countries, including Indonesia. To accelerate TB case detection, and to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment provided by all providers, the Public-Private Mix for implementing Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (PPM DOTS) was introduced in 2000. However, previous studies on PPM DOTS have focused on private practitioners and there has been a scarcity of research on PPM DOTS in the hospital setting. This dissertation aims to capture the potential of the PPM DOTS strategy, and identify the barriers to its implementation in hospitals in Indonesia. This dissertation is based on four separate but interrelated studies: 1. A costeffectiveness analysis, comparing incremental cost per additional number of TB cases successfully treated under three strategies of PPM DOTS in four provinces. 2. An evaluation of the access to TB services by a cross-sectional study among 62 hospitals, by estimating the proportion of TB cases receiving standardised diagnosis and treatment according to the DOTS strategy. The data were analysed using poststratification analysis. 3. The quality aspect was explored in a multiple-case study, including eight selected hospitals. The data were analysed using cross-case analysis. 4. The process of partnership was explored through a qualitative study. In-depth interviews were conducted with 33 informants, who were actors involved in PPM DOTS in hospitals in Yogyakarta province. Content analysis was applied to the qualitative data. PPM DOTS in hospitals was shown to be a cost-effective intervention in this particular context. However, the quality of the implementation was commonly suboptimal. In addition, a substantial number of TB cases did not get standardised diagnosis and treatment as per the DOTS strategy. The process of creating partnership among hospitals and National TB Programme was shown to be complex and dynamic. Process factors, such as commitment to collaboration and interaction and trust among the actors, were shown to be important. The rapid scaling-up of PPM DOTS in hospitals at the national level in Indonesia should be revisited. Indeed, considering the importance of hospitals in TB control, the implementation should be continued and expanded. However, more attention needs to be given to process, context and governance.
10.
Mumba Zulu, Joseph, 1980-
(författare)
Integration of national community-based health worker programmes in health systems : Lessons learned from Zambia and other low and middle income countries
2015
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Background: To address the huge human resources for health (HRH) crisis that Zambia and other low and middle income countries (LMICs) are experiencing, most LMICs have engaged the services of small scale community-based health worker (CBHW) programmes. However, several challenges affect the CBHWs’ ability to deliver services. Integration of national CBHW programmes into health systems is an emerging innovative strategy for addressing the challenges. Integration is important because it facilitates recognition of CBHWs in the national primary health care system. However, the integration process has not been optimal, and a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that shape the integration process is lacking. This study aimed at addressing this gap by analysing the integration process of national CBHW programmes in health systems in LMICs, with a special emphasis on Zambia.Methodology: This was a qualitative study that used case study and systematic review study designs. The case study focused on Zambia and analysed the integration processes of Community Health Assistants (CHAs) into the health system at district level (Papers I-III). Data collected using key informant interviews, participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were analysed using thematic analysis. The systematic review analysed, using thematic and pathways analysis, the integration process of national CBHWs into health systems in LMICs (Brazil, Ethiopia, India and Pakistan)-(Paper IV). The framework on the integration of health innovations into health systems guided the overall analysis.Results: Factors that facilitated the integration of CHAs into the health system in Zambia included the HRH crisis which triggered the willingness by the Ministry of Health to develop and support implementation of the integration strategy-the CHA strategy. In addition, the attributes of the CHA strategy, such as the perceived competence of CHAs compared to other CBHWs, enhanced the community’s confidence in the CHA services. Involvement of the community in selecting CHAs also increased the community’s sense of programme ownership. However, health system characteristics such as limited support by some support staff, supply shortages as well as limited integration of CHAs into the district governance system affected CHAs’ ability to deliver services. In other LMICs, as in Zambia, the HRH problems necessitated the development of integration strategies. In addition, the perceived relative advantage of national CBHWs with regard to delivering health services compared to the other CBHWs also facilitated the integration process. Furthermore, the involvement of community members and some politicians in programme processes enhanced the perceived legitimacy, credibility and relevance of programmes in other LMICs. Finally, the integration process within the existing health systems enhanced programme compatibility with health system elements such as financing. However, a rapid scale-up process, resistance from other health workers, ineffective incentive structures, and discrimination of CBHWs based on social, gender and economic status inhibited the integration process of national CBHWs into the health systems.Conclusion: Strengthening the integration process requires fully integrating the programme into the district health governance system; being aware of the factors that can influence the integration process such as incentives, supplies and communication systems; clear definition of tasks and work relationships; and adopting a stepwise approach to integration process.
