Relationship between Structural Arrangement and Provision of Primary care Quality: A Case of Health Centers in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Healthcare is a fundamental need, its availability and comprehensiveness helps in making people’s life better and productive. Delivery of quality care requires an efficient system with adequate capacity of well trained and motivated health workforce, good infrastructure, good leadership and governance and effective system for financing primary care. This study aimed at finding out the relationship between structural arrangement and provision of primary care quality in Kenya and majorly focused on the public health centers in Nakuru County. Methodology: The study used census research design. A total of 102 respondents comprising 17 Clinical Officers, 52 Nurses, 11 Laboratory Technologist,11 Pharmaceutical Technologist and 10 interns. Data was collected using closed and open ended questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 11. Findings: Adequate infrastructure led to an increase in provision of primary care quality in health centers (r=0.453, p<0.01), while increased employee capacity improved provision of primary care quality (r=0.365, p<0.0). Sufficient fund and effective financial management improved provision primary care quality (r=0.567, p<0.01) and effective governance improved provision of primary care quality (r=0.613, p<0.01). This implies that adequate infrastructure, sufficient funds, high employee capacity and effective governance improve provision of primary care quality. Conclusion: Provision of quality primary care requires good infrastructure, effective allocation and management of finance that will promote other functions that contribute to quality service, enhanced employee capacity and good governance through transparency and accountability. Policy Implication- Health policy addressing the plight of workers, Health resources for effective delivery of health service and Quality management.