Challenges Facing Implementation of Referral System for Quality Health Care Services In Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health Systems and Policy Research
Abstract
The right to the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human
right and, central to this right within a hierarchical health system, is the existence
of a well-functioning referral system that allows for continuity of care across the
different tiers of care. A referral system enables management of client health
needs comprehensively with resources locally unavailable. This study sought to
establish challenges facing implementation of the referral system for quality health
care services in Kiambu County, Kenya. Specifically, investigated the influence of
infrastructure, capacity of health care workers, health information systems and
financial resources on implementation of health care referral system. A crosssectional
research design was done targeting health care workers in public health
care facilities Tier 2 and Tier 3 in Kiambu County and two hundred and seventy
one respondents took part in the study. A statistical analysis was done using SPSS
20 and Excel 2013. Both questionnaires and interview guide were employed as
data collection tools which attained quantitative and qualitative data. Inferential
statistics was used to conduct regression analysis. From the findings of the study it
was established there existed a relationship between independent and dependent
variables as revealed by infrastructure with coefficient 4.457; capacity of health
care workers with coefficient 4.105; health information systems with coefficient
4.405; and financial resources with coefficient.4.013. The p value was <0.001.
The study concluded that infrastructure, health information systems, capacity of
health care workers, and financial resources are challenges in implementation of
health care referral system in Kiambu County and should be strengthened. The
study recommended that Kiambu County Health care facilities should improve
infrastructure; implement a standard referral system monitoring toolkit and
curriculum to train health workers on the referral policies and guidelines; develop
standard referral forms/registers and provide adequate funds for implementation
monitoring and evaluation.
Description
Keywords
Referral system, Health care services, Implementation Challenges
Citation
Kamau, K. J., Osuga, B. O., Njuguna, S. (2017). Challenges Facing Implementation of Referral System for Quality Health Care Services In Kiambu County, Kenya. Health Syst Policy Res. 2017, 4:1