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Community perspectives on roles and responsibilities for strengthening primary health care in rural Ethiopia.
- Source :
- Global Public Health; Oct2012, Vol. 7 Issue 9, p961-973, 13p, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Government–community partnerships are central to developing effective, sustainable models of primary health care in low-income countries; however, evidence about the nature of partnerships lacks the perspective of community members. Our objective was to characterise community perspectives regarding the respective roles and responsibilities of government and the community in efforts to strengthen primary health care in low-income settings. We conducted a qualitative study using focus groups (n=14 groups in each of seven primary health care units in Amhara and Oromia, Ethiopia, with a total of 140 participants) in the context of the Ethiopian Millennium Rural Initiative. Results indicated that community members defined important roles and responsibilities for both communities and governments. Community roles included promoting recommended health behaviours; influencing social norms regarding health; and contributing resources as feasible. Government roles included implementing oversight of health centres; providing human resources, infrastructure, equipment, medication and supplies; and demonstrating support for community health workers, who are seen as central to the rural health system. Renewed efforts in health system strengthening highlight the importance of community participation in initiatives to improve primary health care in rural settings. Community perspectives provide critical insights to defining, implementing and sustaining partnerships in these settings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- MEDICAL care
HEALTH promotion
ATTITUDE (Psychology)
COMMUNITY health services
DEVELOPING countries
FOCUS groups
HEALTH care rationing
HEALTH services accessibility
PRIMARY health care
PUBLIC administration
RURAL conditions
RURAL health services
STATISTICAL sampling
SOUND recordings
GOVERNMENT aid
QUALITATIVE research
COMMUNITY support
SOCIAL responsibility
DATA analysis
GOVERNMENT programs
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17441692
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Global Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 80441010
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2012.686114