A Qualitative Exploration of the Referral Process of Children with Common Infections from Private Low-Level Health Facilities in Western Uganda

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dc.contributor.authorMwanga-Amumpaire, Juliet
dc.contributor.authorNakayaga Kalyango, Joan
dc.contributor.authorNdeezi, Grace
dc.contributor.authorRujumba, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorOwokuhaisa, Judith
dc.contributor.authorLundborg, Cecilia Stålsby
dc.contributor.authorAlfvén, Tobias
dc.contributor.authorObua, Celestino
dc.contributor.authorKällander, Karin
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-02T13:19:22Z
dc.date.available2022-02-02T13:19:22Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractOver 50% of sick children are treated by private primary-level facilities, but data on patient referral processes from such facilities are limited. We explored the perspectives of healthcare providers and child caretakers on the referral process of children with common childhood infections from private low-level health facilities in Mbarara District. We carried out 43 in-depth interviews with health workers and caretakers of sick children, purposively selected from 30 facilities, until data saturation was achieved. The issues discussed included the process of referral, challenges in referral completion and ways to improve the process. We used thematic analysis, using a combined deductive/inductive approach. The reasons for where and how to refer were shaped by the patients’ clinical characteristics, the caretakers’ ability to pay and health workers’ perceptions. Caretaker non-adherence to referral and inadequate communication between health facilities were the major challenges to the referral process. Suggestions for improving referrals were hinged on procedures to promote caretaker adherence to referral, including reducing waiting time and minimising the expenses incurred by caretakers. We recommend that triage at referral facilities should be improved and that health workers in low-level private health facilities (LLPHFs) should routinely be included in the capacity-building trainings organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and in workshops to disseminate health policies and national healthcare guidelines. Further research should be done on the effect of improving communication between LLPHFs and referral health facilities by affordable means, such as telephone, and the impact of community initiatives, such as transport vouchers, on promoting adherence to referral for sick children.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMwanga-Amumpaire, J.; Kalyango, J.N.; Ndeezi, G.; Rujumba, J.; Owokuhaisa, J.; Stålsby Lundborg, C.; Alfvén, T.; Obua, C.; Källander, K. A Qualitative Exploration of the Referral Process of Children with Common Infections from Private Low-Level Health Facilities in Western Uganda. Children 2021, 8, 996. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/children8110996en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/ 10.3390/children8110996
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/1753
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherChildrenen_US
dc.subjectReferralen_US
dc.subjectPrimary private health facilitiesen_US
dc.subjectLow-income countriesen_US
dc.titleA Qualitative Exploration of the Referral Process of Children with Common Infections from Private Low-Level Health Facilities in Western Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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