Abstract

Rural health: strengthening primary health care in Kisumu County, Kenya

Part of Special Series: WONCA World Rural Health Conference Abstracts 2022go to url

AUTHORS

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Rosebellah Amihanda
1 Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Science in Health Economics and Policy , Head, Primary Health Care – Kisumu County *

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Camlus O Odhus
2 Master of Public Health, Program Officer ORCID logo

CORRESPONDENCE

*Dr Rosebellah Amihanda

AFFILIATIONS

1 Department of Health, Kisumu, Kenya

2 Health, UNICEF Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

PUBLISHED

10 January 2023 Volume 23 Issue 1

HISTORY

RECEIVED: 20 September 2022

ACCEPTED: 20 September 2022

CITATION

Amihanda R, Odhus CO.  Rural health: strengthening primary health care in Kisumu County, Kenya. Rural and Remote Health 2023; 23: 8160. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH8160

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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abstract:

Introduction: Primary health care (PHC) presents an opportunity to reduce disparities in access and utilization of healthcare services between rural and urban areas in Kenya and beyond. The Government of Kenya has prioritised PHC with an aim of reducing inequity and making essential health services person-centric. This study sought to assess the status of PHC systems prior to the set-up of primary care networks (PCNs) in a rural underserved setting in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Methods: Primary data were collected using mixed method approaches alongside secondary data extraction from routine health information systems. Emphasis was placed on seeking community voices and feedback through community scorecards and focus groups discussions with community participants.

Results: 100% of PHC facilities reported commodity stock outs. 82% reported shortages in health workforce while half (50%) had inadequate infrastructure to deliver PHC. While the setting had 100% of households covered by a trained community health worker within their village, community concerns included lack of drugs, poor roads, and lack of access to safe water. Disparities were evident: some communities had no 24-hour health facility within a 5km radius.

Discussion: This assessment has provided comprehensive data that have informed planning for the delivery of quality and responsive PHC services, with community and stakeholders’ involvement. Identified gaps are being addressed multi-sectorally to reduce health disparities as Kisumu County makes strides to wards the achievement of universal health coverage targets.

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This PDF has been produced for your convenience. Always refer to the live site https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8160 for the Version of Record.