Availability, functionality and access of blood pressure machines at the points of care in public primary care facilities in Tororo district, Uganda
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Family Practice
Abstract
Early diagnosis of hypertension prevents a significant number of complications
and premature deaths. In resource-variable settings, diagnosis may be limited by inadequate
access to blood pressure (BP) machines. We sought to understand the availability, functionality
and access of BP machines at the points of care within primary care facilities in Tororo district,
Uganda.
Methods: This was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study combining a structured
facility checklist and key informant interviews with primary care providers. The checklist
was used to collect data on availability and functionality of BP machines within their
organisational arrangements. Key informant interviews explored health providers’ access to
BP machines.
Results: The majority of health facilities reported at least one working BP machine. However,
Health providers described limited access to machines because they are not located at each
point of care. Health providers reported borrowing amongst themselves within their respective
units or from other units within the facility. Some health providers purchase and bring their
own BP machines to the health facilities or attempted to restore the functionality of broken
ones. They are motivated to search the clinic for BP machines for some patients but not others
based on their perception of the patient’s risk for hypertension.
Conclusion: Access to BP machines at the point of care was limited. This makes hypertension
screening selective based on health providers’ perception of the patients’ risk for hypertension.
Training in proper BP machine use and regular maintenance will minimise frequent
breakdowns.
Description
Keywords
Hypertension, Primary care, Primary healthcare, Health facilities, Blood pressure machine
Citation
Besigye, I. K., Okuuny, V., Armstrong-Hough, M., Katahoire, A. R., Sewankambo, N. K., Mash, R., & Katamba, A. (2021). Availability, functionality and access of blood pressure machines at the points of care in public primary care facilities in Tororo district, Uganda. South African Family Practice, 63(1), 5118. https://doi.org/10.4102/ safp.v63i1.5118