Kenya

Integrating the PEPFAR Technical Considerations into Health Services to Improve the Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence in Kenya: Final Report

This final report documents achievements and lessons learned from the activity and includes the findings from a desk review and training needs assessment that informed the development of the new training module and supplemental training and performance support materials. [from resource]

Assessment of Quality and Relevance of Curricula Development in Health Training Institutions: A Case Study of Kenya

The study recommended reviews of curricula to ensure their responsiveness to emerging issues in the health sector, the formation of curriculum committees to review curricula, development of official curricula review standards and an integrated mechanism to disseminate policies and guidelines. [from abstract]

Utilization of Community-Based Health Information Systems in Decision Making and Health Action in Nyalenda, Kisumu County, Kenya

The purpose of this paper is to explore how data collected at the community level is utilised by various stakeholders within the community in order to produce actionable information for decision making. [from abstract]

Research Utilization among Nurses at a Teaching Hospital in Kenya

In the era of evidence based practice ( EBP), health care delivery should be grounded on new or validated knowledge and evidence from research. The aim of the study was to assess research utilization by nurses and the influencing factors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the largest teaching hospital in Kenya. [From abstract]

Educating the Health Librarians in Africa Today: Competencies, Skills and Attitudes Required in a Changing Health Environment

The objectives of this study were to establish the extent to which information science schools in Kenya offered courses that imparted competencies and skills required by health information professionals; and to establish a range of competencies, skills and attitudes required by health librarians in Kenya in order to be effective in the changing health environment. [from introduction]

Information Management for Essential Medicines Supplies in Public Primary Care Facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Available pharmaceutical information is often characterized by inadequacy, and inaccuracy, which
compromise its quality and usefulness. This study was carried out to examine staff characteristics,
organizational and technical aspects that affect the quality of pharmaceutical information. [from abstract]

Guide to the Performance Appraisal System in the Civil Service and Local Authorities

The purpose of this guide is to assist the Appraising Officer (Supervisor) and the Appraisee in the effective implementation of the PAS in the Civil Service and Local Authorities. [from introduction]

Human Resources for Health Issues in Kenya: Constraints and opportunities from a recent baseline survey

This paper summarizes the outcome of a rapid baseline survey and reveals critical gaps in the policy framework for HRH as well as resource constraint that must be addressed through additional budgets and better articulation of health workforce issues beyond personnel emoluments. The study shows the need for civil society organizations to join hands with development partners, Faith based organizations to advocate and support implementation of specific measures to address well documented HRH challenges. [from introduction]

What Drives the Community Health Services in Kenya: Results of a recent mapping exercise of Community Health Units in three regions of Turkana North, Greater Machakos, and Kibera

This position paper highlights the outcome of a recent mapping exercise in Turkana, Machakos and Kibera. Insights
from this study indicate that communities have embraced the Community Health Strategy and its contribution to improved
health status. [from introduction]

Improving Benchmarks for Key Health Service Delivery Areas: Evaluation of Demonstration Sites Interventions

The main objective of the evaluation was to conduct a review of the support given by the Capacity Kenya Project at the selected demonstration sites and their contribution to the health worker productivity and/or retention. [from introduction]

Baseline and Work Load Indicator Assessment for Community Health Workforce: A Case of Selected Community Units in Nyanza and Coast Regions

This study sought to assess the staff requirements, work load and performance with respect to the CH work force
using workload indicator of staffing need (WISN) tool. The ultimate objective was to provide information to guide the organization, management and development of the work force. [from abstract]

Tracking Implementation and (Un)intended Consequences: A Process Evaluation of an Innovative Peripheral Health Facility Financing Mechanism in Kenya

In many African countries, user fees have failed to achieve intended access and quality of care improvements. Subsequent user fee reduction or elimination policies have often been poorly planned, without alternative sources of income for facilities. We describe early implementation of an innovative national health financing intervention in Kenya; the health sector services fund (HSSF). [from abstract]

Health Sector Planning and Budgeting in Kenya: Recommendations to Improve Alignment

Kenya, like many developing countries, suffers from a persistent misalignment between policy, planning and budgeting; resulting in a failure of the government to achieve public sector targets and respond to changing population needs. Research conducted by KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme has found that several years after the adoption of these planning and budgeting tools, the desired linkage between policy, planning and resource allocation in the health sector is far from being realised.

Training Process Towards Strengthening Service Delivery In Dagoretti Sub-County

Despite progress in developing more effective training methodologies, training initiatives for health workers continue to experience common pitfalls that have beset the overall success. To improve the quality of healthcare service, the shortage of healthcare workers must be addressed by giving quality training and education needed to fill the gap to increase the output of qualified healthcare workers. [from abstract]

Potential Impact of Devolution on Motivation and Job Satisfaction of Healthcare Workers in Kenya: Lessons from Early Implementation in Kenya and Experiences of other Sub-Saharan African Countries

Kenya’s healthcare devolution was introduced to enhance the quality of care, user satisfaction, equity, and efficiency in service delivery. However, it has since been facing plethora of challenges mostly because healthcare workers (HCWs), who play a significant role in achieving health objectives, were neglected during implementation. This dissertation tries to identify the potential impact of devolution on motivation and satisfaction of HCWs in a politicised Kenyan context. [from abstract]

Perceptions and Barriers to Contraceptive Use among Adolescents Aged 15 - 19 Years in Kenya: A Case Study of Nairobi

Even after the launch of family planning program in Kenya, in 1967, contraceptive use among adolescents has remained below 10 percent while child bearing has increased from 2 percent at age 15 to 36 percent at age 19. To understand the roles of perceptions and barriers on contraceptive use, a mixed method study design was applied to a conceptual framework that operationalized these concepts using data from different sources of social interactions in Nairobi, Kenya. [from abstract]

Emerging Themes for Sensitivity Training Modules of African Healthcare Workers Attending to Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Systematic Review

Sensitivity training of front-line African health care workers (HCWs) attending to men who have sex with men (MSM) is actively promoted through national HIV prevention programming in Kenya.

Factors That Influence the Retention of Rural Health Workers in the Hospitals Within Siaya County

The objective of the study was to investigate the factors that influence retention of rural health workers in hospitals in Siaya County, Kenya. [Adapted from resource]

Factors Influencing Use of Telemedicine in Africa: A Case of School of Medicine University of Nairobi

The purpose of thsi research project is to establish the factors influencing use of telemedicine in Africa: a case of School of Medicine, University of Nairobi.

Exploring the Potential for Advanced Nursing Practice Role Development in Kenya: A Qualitative Study

Definitions of advanced nursing practice abound, yet little has been published concerning the context for advanced nursing in sub-Saharan Africa. This study set out to explore the existence of, and potential for, advanced nursing practice in Kenya. [from abstract]

Utilization of Community-based Health Information Systems in Decision Making and Health Action in Nyalenda, Kisumu County, Kenya

The development of comprehensive community based health information systems is increasingly becoming important for measuring and improving the quality of health services. Many developing countries including Kenya have made efforts to strengthen their national health information systems to provide information
for decision-making in managing health care services. The purpose of this paper is to explore how data collected at the community level is utilised by various stakeholders within the community in order to produce actionable information for decision making. [from abstract]

Influence of Background Factors on Health Outcome and Main Sources of Maternal Health Information Among Rural Women of Reproductive Age: A Case of Bar B Sub-Location In Kenya

Accessing maternal health information by the women can easily make community members
make their own informed decisions that can lead to improving their health. Women are usually
disadvantaged as far as accessing health information is concerned. It is against this background
that this study is therefore concerned with studying the sources of maternal health information
amongst the rural women of reproductive age in. [from abstract]

Assessing the Quality of Primary Healthcare Services in Kenya: Evidence from the PETS-PLUS Survey 2012

Health investments in Kenya have increased in the past two decades, resulting in the expansion of service delivery and improvements in the quality of health services. Although devolution in Kenya provides better opportunities for increasing access to high-quality healthcare services, if the transition is not well managed it may erode the gains made over the last decade, especially in maternal and child health. [from introduction]

Effective Implementation of the New Health Financing Policies

In the last decade, evidence has emerged that user fees are regressive and undermine equitable access to essential health services, particularly for women and children. It is against this background that the government of Kenya took decisive action to remove user fees in dispensaries and health centers and to provide free maternal health services at all public health facilities in an effort to increase access to essential health services and reduce maternal mortality. [adopted from introduction]

Informing the Scale-Up of Kenya’s Nursing Workforce: A Mixed Methods Study of Factors Affecting Pre-Service Training Capacity and Production

This study used a mixed methods approach with data from the Regulatory Human Resources Information System (tracks initial student enrolment through registration) and the Kenya Health Workforce Information System (tracks deployment and demographic information on licensed nurses) for the quantitative analyses and qualitative data from key informant interviews with nurse training institution educators and/or administrators. [from abstract]

Sauti Za Wananchi “Voice of the People”: Patient's Satisfaction on the Medical Wards at a Kenyan Referral Hospital

Patient’s satisfaction is one indicator of healthcare quality. Few studies have examined the inpatient experiences in resource-scarce environments in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper examines patient’s satisfaction on the public medical wards at a Kenyan referral hospital, we performed a cross-sectional survey focused on patient’s satisfaction with medical information and their relationship with staffing and hospital routine. Ratings of communication with providers, efforts to protect privacy, information about costs, food, and hospital environment were also elicited. [adapted from abstract]

Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Program in Rural Kenya

Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) form an important element of many health systems, and in Kenya these volunteers are the foundation for promoting behavior change through health education, earlier case identification, and timely referral to trained health care providers. This study examines the effectiveness of a community health worker project conducted in rural Kenya that sought to promote improved knowledge of maternal newborn health and to increase deliveries under skilled attendance. [from abstract]

Factors Affecting Motivation and Retention of Primary Health Care Workers in Three Disparate Regions in Kenya

This study investigated factors influencing motivation and retention of HCWs at primary health care facilities in three different settings in Kenya - the remote area of Turkana, the relatively accessible region of Machakos, and the disadvantaged informal urban settlement of Kibera in Nairobi. [from abstract]

Systematic Review of Kenya’s Programmatic Progress towards Universal Coverage and Its Effect on Health Equity

The purpose of this paper was to critically review the various initiatives that the government of Kenya has over the years initiated
towards enhancement of universal coverage in terms of policy reforms including health care financing. [from abstract]

Factors that Act as Facilitators and Barriers to Nurse Leaders’ Participation in Health Policy Development

Health policies impact on nursing profession and health care. Nurses’ involvement in health policy development ensures that health care is safe, of a high quality, accessible and affordable. Numerous factors influence nurse leaders’ ability to be politically active in influencing health policy development. These factors can be facilitators or barriers to their participation. There is scant research evidence from Eastern African region that draws
attention to this topic. This paper reports part of the larger study. [from abstract]