The contribution of family physicians to African health systems.
Africa
family physicians
health workforce
models of care
primary health care
quality improvement
service delivery
Journal
African journal of primary health care & family medicine
ISSN: 2071-2936
Titre abrégé: Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
Pays: South Africa
ID NLM: 101520860
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
28 Jul 2022
28 Jul 2022
Historique:
received:
05
05
2022
accepted:
02
06
2022
entrez:
4
8
2022
pubmed:
5
8
2022
medline:
6
8
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Africa is the last region to incorporate family physicians into its health systems. They are still a relatively new concept in many countries, small in numbers and deployed in a variety of ways. There is a need for more evidence on their contribution to African health systems to guide policymakers. The aim of this study was to review the special collection of short reports on the contribution of family physicians to African health systems, published in the African Primary Health Care and Family Medicine Journal in 2021. Seventeen short reports from eight countries were qualitatively and thematically analysed in ATLAS.ti. Codes, which were derived inductively, were organised into categories according to the World Health Organization's primary health care monitoring framework. In the domain of health system determinants, family physicians made little contribution to governance, adjustment to population health needs or financing. They did, however, contribute substantially to the capacity of the health workforce, supply of equipment, functioning of the health information system and use of digital technologies. In the domain of service delivery, they strengthened the model of care and championed systems for improving the quality of care. This translated into improved availability and utilisation of services, core functions of primary care, quality of care and patient safety. Family physicians described their important contribution to service delivery in district hospitals and primary health care. This should lead to improvements in outcomes and impact for the health system. Their contribution to the concept of resilient facilities and health services needs further exploration.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Africa is the last region to incorporate family physicians into its health systems. They are still a relatively new concept in many countries, small in numbers and deployed in a variety of ways. There is a need for more evidence on their contribution to African health systems to guide policymakers.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to review the special collection of short reports on the contribution of family physicians to African health systems, published in the African Primary Health Care and Family Medicine Journal in 2021.
METHOD
METHODS
Seventeen short reports from eight countries were qualitatively and thematically analysed in ATLAS.ti. Codes, which were derived inductively, were organised into categories according to the World Health Organization's primary health care monitoring framework.
RESULTS
RESULTS
In the domain of health system determinants, family physicians made little contribution to governance, adjustment to population health needs or financing. They did, however, contribute substantially to the capacity of the health workforce, supply of equipment, functioning of the health information system and use of digital technologies. In the domain of service delivery, they strengthened the model of care and championed systems for improving the quality of care. This translated into improved availability and utilisation of services, core functions of primary care, quality of care and patient safety.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Family physicians described their important contribution to service delivery in district hospitals and primary health care. This should lead to improvements in outcomes and impact for the health system. Their contribution to the concept of resilient facilities and health services needs further exploration.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35924626
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3651
pmc: PMC9350474
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e1-e9Références
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Oct 28;13(1):e1-e5
pubmed: 34797117
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 06;13(1):e1-e4
pubmed: 34636614
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Aug 23;13(1):e1-e4
pubmed: 34476970
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 11;18(12):
pubmed: 34207979
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 30;13(1):e1-e4
pubmed: 34636618
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Oct 28;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34797118
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Dec 13;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34931521
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Nov 29;13(1):e1-e4
pubmed: 34879697
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Dec 10;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34931522
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2020 Aug 11;12(1):e1-e5
pubmed: 32787411
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Dec 03;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34879698
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Dec 17;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34931520
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 30;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34636617
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Oct 27;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34797116
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Nov 18;13(1):e1-e4
pubmed: 34797119
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 06;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34636613
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 16;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34636615
Br J Gen Pract. 2013 Mar;63(608):e209-16
pubmed: 23561788
Hum Resour Health. 2020 Apr 3;18(1):27
pubmed: 32245501
S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2022 Mar 17;64(1):e1-e7
pubmed: 35384681
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Sep 30;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34636616
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Jul 23;13(1):e1-e3
pubmed: 34342476