Availability of guidelines and policy documents for enhancing performance of practitioners at the Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Gaborone, Tlokweng and Mogoditshane, Republic of Botswana.
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Date
2016-05-13
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Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the profile and availability of policies and guidelines as reference
documents at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Gaborone and its surrounding in Botswana using
the World Health Organisation/Drug Action programme (WHO/DAP) Questionnaire. The Questionnaire is
a standard recommended by WHO and therefore was not piloted. All 20 PHC facilities were included in
the study, however, data from 18 clinics was collected and analysed. The Matron from each PHC facility
was asked to name and produce as evidence, guidelines and policy documents available as reference
in his/her PHC facility. Data was entered in an Excel spread sheet and percentages, averages and
frequencies were used to describe the profile and availability of the documents at each facility. Fifty two
different documents were available at the facilities, 50% of them were on treatment and management of
diseases. The remaining 50% were distributed between general information/policy, Ante-Natal Clinic,
obstetrics and gynaecological care, and family planning. Except for guidelines for treating sexually
transmitted diseases (86%), availability of the other guidelines and policy documents was low (56%) or
less. Policy and guideline reference information for disease immunisation and prevention were
available at 4 and 13% PHC, respectively. This low availability of such important instruments may be
compromising patient care in the studied PHC facilities and should be addressed. While the Ministry of
Health has produced many policy documents and guidelines as reference documents for PHC
providers, none of the clinics had all the documents, raising questions on what is available at the
facilities as reference and guide in the prescription practices. It is recommended that ministries of
health and PHC workers should ensure that necessary reference documents are available at the
facilities and staff should be trained and retrained on the use of such documents.
Description
Keywords
Rational drug use, General policy documents, Medical guidelines
Citation
Mashalla, Y.J., Sepako, E., Setlhare, V., Chuma, M., Bulang, M. and Massele, A.Y., 2016. Availability of guidelines and policy documents for enhancing performance of practitioners at the Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Gaborone, Tlokweng and Mogoditshane, Republic of Botswana. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 8(8), pp.127-135.