Title: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY: A CASE OF BUSORO PARISH, KABAROLE DISTRICT, UGANDA
Authors:
Nyakwebara Sarah, Dr. Lucas Anthony Kisasa and Dr. Kassim Rashid Kiliza
Abstract:
The research identified the challenges facing community involvement in health service delivery in Busoro parish, Kabarole district, Uganda. A descriptive research design was employed, gathering data through surveys and interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used; qualitative data came from interviews and open-ended survey questions, while quantitative data was analyzed numerically. The study included 160 total population, comprising parish health officers, village health teams (VHTs), and community members. Through purposive and random sampling, the final sample consisted of 109 respondents, determined via a solvent method. Data collection involved both primary and secondary sources using surveys and interviews. After gathering the data, completed surveys were organized, edited, and sorted for analysis.
The study concluded that the government has introduced important health programs that have positively influenced community well-being. A significant majority (94.5%) noted the presence of government health initiatives through health workers and VHTs. However, there was a lack of community participation in the planning of these programs. The study findings indicates that low economic status, lack of formal education, and cultural factors as major barriers to community engagement, with 63.3% indicating low economic status as a primary obstacle. The study concluded that barriers such as low economic status, lack of education, and cultural factors significantly impact participation. Addressing these barriers through targeted interventions may enhance community engagement in health programs, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Keywords: Community Participation and Public Health Service Delivery.
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