Health system constraints in cervical cancer prevention in rural Namibia: A qualitative study.

IF 1.7 Q4 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Elizabeth K Ndakukamo, Roshwitha Mahalie, Panduleni Hailonga-van Dijk
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background:  Cervical cancer remains a pressing public health concern in Namibia, with significant barriers to prevention, particularly in rural areas.

Aim:  This study explored health system's challenges and their impact on cervical cancer prevention efforts.

Setting:  This study was conducted in the Ohangwena and Kavango West regions of Namibia.

Methods:  A qualitative exploratory design was employed, focusing on healthcare workers directly involved in cervical cancer prevention. In-depth interviews were utilised to collect data from 11 participants from four district hospitals. Thematic analysis, guided by the World Health Organisation's six health system framework pillars, was used.

Results:  Key service gaps were identified across critical areas of cervical cancer prevention, including a lack of awareness, a lack of human papillomavirus vaccines and referral screening equipment that limited local outreach services. Other significant findings included the shortage of trained personnel and the manual data systems, which resulted in deficiencies in decision-making. Financial constraints, including reliance on non-governmental organisation funding and weak community engagement, exacerbated by cultural stigma, presented leadership challenges.

Conclusion:  Investing in human resources for health, decentralising budget trends and enhancing data systems are critical for cervical cancer prevention in rural Namibia. Equally important is the active involvement of the community in these efforts. Contribution: This study highlights key health system constraints in the Ohangwena and Kavango West regions.

纳米比亚农村预防宫颈癌的卫生系统限制:一项定性研究。
背景:宫颈癌在纳米比亚仍然是一个紧迫的公共卫生问题,在预防方面存在重大障碍,特别是在农村地区。目的:本研究探讨卫生系统的挑战及其对宫颈癌预防工作的影响。环境:本研究在纳米比亚的Ohangwena和Kavango West地区进行。方法:采用定性探索性设计,以直接参与宫颈癌预防的医护人员为研究对象。采用深度访谈的方法收集了来自4个地区医院的11名参与者的数据。在世界卫生组织的六个卫生系统框架支柱的指导下,采用了专题分析。结果:在宫颈癌预防的关键领域确定了主要的服务差距,包括缺乏认识、缺乏人乳头瘤病毒疫苗和转诊筛查设备,限制了当地的外展服务。其他重要的发现包括缺乏训练有素的人员和人工数据系统,这导致决策方面的缺陷。财政上的限制,包括对非政府组织资金的依赖和社区参与度不高,再加上文化上的耻辱,给领导层带来了挑战。结论:投资于卫生人力资源、分散预算趋势和加强数据系统对纳米比亚农村的宫颈癌预防至关重要。同样重要的是社区积极参与这些努力。贡献:本研究突出了Ohangwena和Kavango West地区的主要卫生系统限制。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
3.30
自引率
10.00%
发文量
81
审稿时长
15 weeks
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