The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey
Abstract Background There is limited information on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. The available evidence is from studies that focused on either assessing EMS capacity and gaps at the national level especially in Kampala or identifying risk factors for specific emergency me...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05508-8 |
| _version_ | 1818506246188171264 |
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| author | Albert Ningwa Kennedy Muni Frederick Oporia Joseph Kalanzi Esther Bayiga Zziwa Claire Biribawa Olive Kobusingye |
| author_facet | Albert Ningwa Kennedy Muni Frederick Oporia Joseph Kalanzi Esther Bayiga Zziwa Claire Biribawa Olive Kobusingye |
| author_sort | Albert Ningwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is limited information on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. The available evidence is from studies that focused on either assessing EMS capacity and gaps at the national level especially in Kampala or identifying risk factors for specific emergency medical conditions (e.g., injuries). In this study, we sought to provide a snapshot of the state of EMS in Uganda by assessing the pre-hospital and hospital emergency care capacity at both national and sub-national (district) levels. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional national survey administering structured questionnaires to EMS providers and policy makers from 38 randomly selected districts across seven of the 14 health regions of Uganda. This resulted in a study sample of 111 health facilities and 52 pre-hospital service providers. We collected data on six pillars of EMS whose frequencies and percentages were calculated and qualitatively compared for different levels of the health care system. Results At the time of this study, Uganda did not have any EMS policy or guidelines. In addition, there was no functional toll-free number for emergency response in the country. However, Ministry of Health reported that a taskforce had been set up to lead development of EMS policy, guidelines, and standards including establishment of a toll-free emergency number. At the sub-national level, ambulances lacked the products and supplies needed to provide pre-hospital care, and mainly functioned as emergency transport vehicles, with no capacity for medical care. Only 16 (30.8%) of the 52 pre-hospital providers assessed had standard ambulances with required equipment, medicines, and personnel. The rest of the service providers had improvised ambulances that were not equipped to provide pre-hospital care. Traffic police and bystanders were the first responders to the majority (> 90%) of the emergency cases. Conclusion Our findings reveal weaknesses at every level of what should be a critical component in the health care system – one that deals with the ability to treat life-threatening conditions in a time sensitive manner. The Ministry of Health needs to speed up efforts to provide policies and guidelines, and to increase investments for the creation of a functional EMS in Uganda. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:01:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12ac55a92ef34d738ae0bd53df19bae6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:01:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-12ac55a92ef34d738ae0bd53df19bae62022-12-22T01:31:52ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632020-07-0120111010.1186/s12913-020-05508-8The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional SurveyAlbert Ningwa0Kennedy Muni1Frederick Oporia2Joseph Kalanzi3Esther Bayiga Zziwa4Claire Biribawa5Olive Kobusingye6Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public HealthDepartment of Epidemiology, University of WashingtonDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public HealthDepartment of Emergency Medical Services, Ministry of HealthDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public HealthDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public HealthDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public HealthAbstract Background There is limited information on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. The available evidence is from studies that focused on either assessing EMS capacity and gaps at the national level especially in Kampala or identifying risk factors for specific emergency medical conditions (e.g., injuries). In this study, we sought to provide a snapshot of the state of EMS in Uganda by assessing the pre-hospital and hospital emergency care capacity at both national and sub-national (district) levels. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional national survey administering structured questionnaires to EMS providers and policy makers from 38 randomly selected districts across seven of the 14 health regions of Uganda. This resulted in a study sample of 111 health facilities and 52 pre-hospital service providers. We collected data on six pillars of EMS whose frequencies and percentages were calculated and qualitatively compared for different levels of the health care system. Results At the time of this study, Uganda did not have any EMS policy or guidelines. In addition, there was no functional toll-free number for emergency response in the country. However, Ministry of Health reported that a taskforce had been set up to lead development of EMS policy, guidelines, and standards including establishment of a toll-free emergency number. At the sub-national level, ambulances lacked the products and supplies needed to provide pre-hospital care, and mainly functioned as emergency transport vehicles, with no capacity for medical care. Only 16 (30.8%) of the 52 pre-hospital providers assessed had standard ambulances with required equipment, medicines, and personnel. The rest of the service providers had improvised ambulances that were not equipped to provide pre-hospital care. Traffic police and bystanders were the first responders to the majority (> 90%) of the emergency cases. Conclusion Our findings reveal weaknesses at every level of what should be a critical component in the health care system – one that deals with the ability to treat life-threatening conditions in a time sensitive manner. The Ministry of Health needs to speed up efforts to provide policies and guidelines, and to increase investments for the creation of a functional EMS in Uganda.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05508-8Emergency medical servicesPre-hospital careAmbulance |
| spellingShingle | Albert Ningwa Kennedy Muni Frederick Oporia Joseph Kalanzi Esther Bayiga Zziwa Claire Biribawa Olive Kobusingye The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey BMC Health Services Research Emergency medical services Pre-hospital care Ambulance |
| title | The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full | The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_fullStr | The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_short | The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_sort | state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in uganda findings from a national cross sectional survey |
| topic | Emergency medical services Pre-hospital care Ambulance |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05508-8 |
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