A model for the integration of primary health-care services in the province of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa |
| |
Authors: | MN SIBIYA DTECH NURSING NS GWELE PhD |
| |
Institution: | 1. Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing;2. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa |
| |
Abstract: | Aims To analyse integrated primary health care and ultimately develop a model for integrated care. Background In South Africa, Integration of Services Policy was enacted in 1996 with the aim of increasing health service utilization. However, the problem with the policy arises in the implementation of integrated primary health care as there is no agreed understanding of what this phenomenon means in the South African context. Method A cross-sectional study, using Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory approach was utilised. Policy makers as well as primary health care nurses at functional level participated in the study. The data was collected by means of observations and interviews. The sample size for interviews comprised 38 participants. Results Integrated primary health care was understood either as comprehensive health care, supermarket approach or one-stop shop. Conclusion It was concluded that integrated primary health care meant different things in different contexts. Implications for nursing management Integrated primary health care, if implemented, would advance health equity in all countries rich and poor and, as a result, promote human and national development. This model could be used to guide policy formulation and implementation of integrated primary health care at provincial and national levels. |
| |
Keywords: | district health system grounded theory integrated primary health care primary health care qualitative research |
|
|