Assessment of the awareness, availability and utilization of standard treatment guidelines (stg) at primary health facilities in Magu district

Abstract

Health service delivery characterizes any health system by identifying the ways how services are provided. However, service delivery depends on the available and accessible resources or inputs and processes involved to attain the desired outcomes and impacts. Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) is one of the input resources needed that help health care providers to focus on best treatments, but studies indicate that the use of STG in developing countries is low. This cross-sectional study was therefore conducted in Magu District Council to assess availability, awareness and utilization of STG in primary health facilities. The study was carried out in May 2012 and assessed 22 Primary Health Facilities (PHF) and interviewed 40 prescribers, 80% of them were females. STG utilization was analysed through independent variables including STG availabilities, prescribers awareness, sensitization process and supervision. Data was collected using structured questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions and checklist was also used to collect observational data. It was analysed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical software and presented in tables, pie chart and bar charts. Treatment adherence to STG in public and private PHF was found to be 49.6% and 58.9% respectively higher than that reported by the World Health Organization of 40% and 30%. This is still low as all patients are supposed to be attended as per STG, and might be attributed by low awareness, as only 37.5% of all prescribers were aware with those working in private dispensaries being more aware, 50% compared to 11.1% and 44.4% in public health centres and dispensaries respectively. Others include 22.7% of all health facilities lacked STG, STG not in prescribing rooms, STG written in language not clear to most prescribers, lack of sensitization and innefficient supervision. Sensitization, training and closer supervision should therefore be conducted whenever a new guideline is introduced. Also sufficient copies have to be distributed to both public and private PHF and STG should be written in both Kiswahili and English languages.