The Outreach team leaders views regarding ward-based primary health care services in Makhuduthamaga sub-district, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background: The Ward Based Primary Health Care Outreach Team (WBPHCOT) in Makhuduthamaga Sub-district was introduced in 2012 to improve access and bring health services closer to where people live and work. Irrespective of the provision of Ward Based Primary Health Care services, Outreach Team Leaders (OTLs) continue to face serious challenges in the provision of Ward Based Primary Health Care services. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the Outreach team leaders views regarding Ward Based Primary Health Care services in Makhuduthamaga Sub-district, Limpopo Province. Research design and methods: Qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive designs were used in this study. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample from the outreach team leaders. The researcher collected data using semi structured interviews. Tesch’s method of data analysis was used to analyze data. Population: The population in this study included all OTLs in Makhuduthamaga Sub-district, Limpopo Province. Findings: The study findings indicate that WBPHCS is a good programme that bridges the gap in terms of access to health care services. The findings also illustrate that OTLs encounter challenges in the rendering of health care services. The findings revealed that WBPHCs is beneficial to the community members as well as the PHC facilities, although the participants cited challenges such as dual job, lack of stationary, lack of transport, and lack of support which prohibits them to render and respond to the services required at household level. This finding will increase knowledge that will enable all health care workers working in Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities to understand WBPHCOT and to give support to OTLs allocated dual jobs. Findings will also assist managers at the sub-district, district and provincial levels in planning, resource allocation and evaluation of services rendered by OTLs in Makhuduthamaga Sub-district, Limpopo Province. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that WBPHCS is a valuable programme as it bridges the gaps in PHC. The gaps include access to health care services that are free of charge, including promotion of treatment regarding the provision of chronic medication, promotion of treatment adherence regarding tracing defaulting patients and promoting antenatal care. The results also confirm that OTLs encounter challenges such as access to resources (lack of stationery), inadequate human resources (high workload of OTLs), informal and dual OTLs’ job description, inadequate support from colleagues, infrastructure challenges, inadequate working environment, and more.