Health Resource Gaps in Primary Health Care Facilities: Community Members’ Perspectives in the Era of Universal Health Coverage in Lawra Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Background. Health resources are key determinants of healthcare coverage. Community members who utilise healthcare have significant insights into the availability of health resources in providing healthcare. Aim. This study sought to explore community (health committee) members’ perspectives on health resource gaps in lower-level health facilities in the municipality. Methods. The qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives of community members who served on the health committee. Thirty-four community health committee members at community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compounds, maternity-unit CHPS, and health centres were studied. Results. The study found three high-level categories of resource gaps deemed relevant to community members—infrastructural gaps, equipment gaps, and safety-quality gaps. Conclusion and Recommendation. There are perceived gaps in health resources from the community members’ perspective. It is recommended that the Lawra Municipal Health Directorate and other health directorates with similar health resource challenges take steps to fill health resource gaps to ensure universal health coverage.