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Gourab G, Sarwar G, Khan MNM, Hasan AMR, Irfan SD, Saha TK, Rahman L, Rana AKMM, Khan SI. Are we ready for a sustainable approach? A qualitative study of the readiness of the public health system to provide STI services to the key populations at risk of HIV in Bangladesh. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:979. [PMID: 37697263 PMCID: PMC10496154 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09996-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In Bangladesh, sexually transmitted infection (STI) services are available for all populations in public health facilities. However, STI services for key populations (KPs) at risk of HIV need specifically designed approaches that are predominantly administered to KPs through donor-supported service centers operated by non-government organizations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs). However, the steady decline in donor funding warrants a sustainable transition of STI services for the KPs into public health facilities. This article aimed to explore the service availability and readiness of public health facilities to provide STI services for the KPs. METHODS This qualitative study explored the service availability and readiness of public health facilities in three districts of Bangladesh by adapting the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool. We conducted 34 in-depth interviews,11 focus group discussions with KPs, and 29 key-informant interviews with healthcare providers, researchers, programme implementers and policy planners, in addition to series of direct observations at the public healthcare facilities. Data were analysed through thematic analysis, and categorised in relation to the WHO building blocks. RESULTS This study revealed that the public health system was generally not ready to serve the KPs' needs in terms of providing them with quality STI services. The 'service delivery' component, which is the most crucial facet of the public health system, was not ready to provide STI services to KPs. Findings also indicated that health workforce availability was limited in the primary and secondary healthcare layers but adequate in the tertiary layer, but needed to be oriented on providing culturally sensitised treatment. Counseling, an essential component of STI services, was neither ready nor available. However, health information systems and a few other components were partially ready, although this warrants systematic approaches to address these challenges. CONCLUSION The findings show that public health facilities are yet to be fully ready to render STI services to KPs, especially in terms of service delivery and human and health resources. Therefore, it is not only integral to mobilize communities towards the uptake of public health services, but health systems need to be prepared to cater to their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorkey Gourab
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Golam Sarwar
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Niaz Morshed Khan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - A M Rumayan Hasan
- Universal Health Coverage, Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Samira Dishti Irfan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Tarit Kumar Saha
- Institute of Public Health (IPH), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lima Rahman
- HIV/AIDS Programme, Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children, House 35, Road 43, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A K M Masud Rana
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Sharful Islam Khan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
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Tiruneh MG, Fenta ET, Delie AM, Masresha SA, Mustofa SM, Kidie AA, Kodo TK, Anagaw TF. Service availability and readiness to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services in post-conflict at North Wollo Zone hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia: mixed survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:205. [PMID: 36859188 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09165-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Countries with humanitarian crises and fragile conditions contribute to 61% of the global burden of maternal mortality. Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services reduce direct obstetric complications, which cause approximately 70-80% of maternal deaths and 10% to 15% of neonatal deaths. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the service availability and readiness to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services in post-conflict at North Wollo Zone hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS A facility-based mixed cross-sectional study design was conducted from May 10 to May 25, 2022, among North Wollo zone hospitals. Quantitative data were collected by using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires with observation and record review, entered by using Epi Data Version 4.6, and exported to SPSS 25 for analysis. Qualitative data were collected by key informant interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. A descriptive data analysis was done to analyze the study variables. RESULTS Only three of the six hospitals (Woldia, Shediho Meket, and Saint Lalibella) performed all signal functions of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care in the preceding three months. Cesarean section was the least performed signal function in post-conflict. The overall readiness to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services was 77.7%. Only one of the six hospitals had sufficient blood without interruption, and three of the six facilities had done screening for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. Lack of supplies, equipment, and drugs were the challenges for the performance of EmONC signal functions. CONCLUSIONS Post-conflict availability and readiness for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services in the North Wollo Zone was suboptimal. Shortage of medical supplies, equipment and emergency transportation was the challenges to provide these services. Thus, the hospital decision makers should strengthen leadership commitment, which focuses on recovering and rebuilding the destructed hospitals with resource mobilization and support.
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