Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda
Abstract Background Understanding of the most economical and sustainable models of providing geriatric care to Africa’s rising ageing population is critical. In Uganda, the number of old adults (60 years and above) continues to rise against absence of policies and guidelines, and models for providin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02897-9 |
| _version_ | 1811271984663756800 |
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| author | Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba Mary Nakafeero Hellen Musana Mathew Amollo Aloysius Ssennyonjo Suzanne N. Kiwanuka |
| author_facet | Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba Mary Nakafeero Hellen Musana Mathew Amollo Aloysius Ssennyonjo Suzanne N. Kiwanuka |
| author_sort | Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Understanding of the most economical and sustainable models of providing geriatric care to Africa’s rising ageing population is critical. In Uganda, the number of old adults (60 years and above) continues to rise against absence of policies and guidelines, and models for providing care to this critical population. Our study explored public primary health care provider views on how best community-based geriatric support (CBGS) could be instituted as an adaptable model for delivering geriatric care in Uganda’s resource-limited primary public health care settings. Methods We interviewed 20 key informants from four districts of Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Rakai, and Lwengo in Southern Central Uganda. Respondents were leads (in-charges) of public primary health units that had spent at least 6 months at the fore said facilities. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed based on Hsieh and Shannon’s approach to conventional manifest content analysis. Results During analysis, four themes emerged: 1) Structures to leverage for CBGS, 2) How to promote CBGS, 3) Who should be involved in CBGS, and 4) What activities need to be leveraged to advance CBGS? The majority of the respondents viewed using the existing village health team and local leadership structures as key to the successful institutionalization of CBGS; leveraging community education and sensitization using radio, television, and engaging health workers, family relatives, and neighbors. Health outreach activities were mentioned as one of the avenues that could be leveraged to provide CBGS. Conclusion Provider notions pointed to CBGS as a viable model for instituting geriatric care in Uganda’s public primary healthcare system. However, this requires policymakers to leverage existing village health team and local governance structures, conduct community education and sensitization about CBGS, and bring onboard health workers, family relatives, and neighbors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:32:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bed5c85939334817b17d59da16255dc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:32:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-bed5c85939334817b17d59da16255dc52022-12-22T03:13:57ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-03-012211810.1186/s12877-022-02897-9Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in UgandaJude Thaddeus Ssensamba0Mary Nakafeero1Hellen Musana2Mathew Amollo3Aloysius Ssennyonjo4Suzanne N. Kiwanuka5Division of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Health, Center for Innovations in Health AfricaDivision of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Health, Center for Innovations in Health AfricaDivision of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Health, Center for Innovations in Health AfricaSchool of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health SciencesSchool of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Planning, Makerere University College of Health SciencesSchool of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Planning, Makerere University College of Health SciencesAbstract Background Understanding of the most economical and sustainable models of providing geriatric care to Africa’s rising ageing population is critical. In Uganda, the number of old adults (60 years and above) continues to rise against absence of policies and guidelines, and models for providing care to this critical population. Our study explored public primary health care provider views on how best community-based geriatric support (CBGS) could be instituted as an adaptable model for delivering geriatric care in Uganda’s resource-limited primary public health care settings. Methods We interviewed 20 key informants from four districts of Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Rakai, and Lwengo in Southern Central Uganda. Respondents were leads (in-charges) of public primary health units that had spent at least 6 months at the fore said facilities. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed based on Hsieh and Shannon’s approach to conventional manifest content analysis. Results During analysis, four themes emerged: 1) Structures to leverage for CBGS, 2) How to promote CBGS, 3) Who should be involved in CBGS, and 4) What activities need to be leveraged to advance CBGS? The majority of the respondents viewed using the existing village health team and local leadership structures as key to the successful institutionalization of CBGS; leveraging community education and sensitization using radio, television, and engaging health workers, family relatives, and neighbors. Health outreach activities were mentioned as one of the avenues that could be leveraged to provide CBGS. Conclusion Provider notions pointed to CBGS as a viable model for instituting geriatric care in Uganda’s public primary healthcare system. However, this requires policymakers to leverage existing village health team and local governance structures, conduct community education and sensitization about CBGS, and bring onboard health workers, family relatives, and neighbors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02897-9Community-based geriatric supportUgandaHealth providersNotionsOld adultsPrimary health care |
| spellingShingle | Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba Mary Nakafeero Hellen Musana Mathew Amollo Aloysius Ssennyonjo Suzanne N. Kiwanuka Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda BMC Geriatrics Community-based geriatric support Uganda Health providers Notions Old adults Primary health care |
| title | Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda |
| title_full | Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda |
| title_short | Primary care provider notions on instituting community-based geriatric support in Uganda |
| title_sort | primary care provider notions on instituting community based geriatric support in uganda |
| topic | Community-based geriatric support Uganda Health providers Notions Old adults Primary health care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02897-9 |
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