Farwa Akbari
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Elisa Maria Maffioli
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Health Management and Policy / Public Health
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 4 – 2:40pm – 3:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Elisa Mafioli, Farwa Akbari
Presenter: 4
Abstract
Health delivery failures in Uganda largely stem from resource misallocation on both, a local and global level. In recent years, healthcare improvement programs have emphasized healthcare care quality including vaccination rates, first antenatal care visit, and postnatal care utilization. Despite the efforts, there are still many gaps in the healthcare quality. The study focuses on addressing these gaps utilizing a training to improve local political leaders’ monitoring of service provision at local government health centers alongside a meetings program to facilitate community engagement in service delivery dialogue. Citizen participation is a key component to improving accountability for service delivery. Preliminary efforts involved conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of messages encouraging households to attend community meetings that address local healthcare quality. The messages effectively increase meeting participation. Collectively, the programs measure and implement stricter supervision of health worker absenteeism, drug and supply diversion, facility condition and sanitation, and respectful care, all of which local leaders can help to address. There are four categories for the study’s health services outcomes: (1) healthcare utilization, (2) healthcare quality, (3) intervention delivery and adoption, and (4) patient satisfaction. Through the proposed interventions local politicians should be able to successfully advocate for increased resource allocation to their communities so as to lead to staff increases and infrastructural improvements.
Interdisciplinary, Public Health
