The role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in healthcare delivery system: A case study of child immunisation in Kabarole district, Uganda

Abstract

Background: The importance of civil society organisations in health care delivery systems cannot be under-rated in sub-SaharanAfricaand other developing nations worldwide. Civil society organisations play a central role in service delivery and development of democracy. However, little is known about the roles and achievements of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in healthcare. The study aimed at exploring the role of civil society organisations in health care delivery system particularly in children immunization. Methods: A questionnaire survey involving 282 households was conducted. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics followed by multivariable logistic regression. Results: Ninety seven percent (97%) confirmed that CSOs/NGOs healthcare facilities played a major role in healthcare service delivery. 84% travelled long distances to access the healthcare services including child immunisation services. Travelling long distances (>2 km) to access for health care services including immunization compared to short distance (<1 km) (OR = 0.4, P = 0.0001), possessing a food stores (enguli) compared to not having a food store (enguli) (OR = 2.3, P = 0.002), having separate animal houses compared to not having livestock houses (OR = 0.09, P = 0.0001), and owning a bicycle compared to not having a bicycle (OR = 2.2, P = 0.005) are important determinants for the number of clients at CSO health centers. Further, possessing and using a cellphone compared to no cellphone (OR = 3.7, P = 0.001), Possessing and watching a television compared to not having a television (OR = 2.4, P = 0.002), educated compared to not acquiring any formal education (OR = 0.084, P = 0.0001), and female compared to male respondent (OR = 0.49, P = 0.0045) are other most important factors likely to determine the numbers of clients at the CSO healthcare. Conclusion: Geographies of CSO and community socioeconomics strongly determine the operations and the roles played by the CSO healthcare services in Uganda. Further studies to assess the role of CSO health service providers in other healthcare services need to be done.

Share and Cite:

Kankya, C. , Akandinda, A. and Rwabukwali, C. (2013) The role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in healthcare delivery system: A case study of child immunisation in Kabarole district, Uganda. Health, 5, 1277-1288. doi: 10.4236/health.2013.58174.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Anheier, H.K. (2004) Civil society: Measurement, evaluation and policy. Earthscan, London.
[2] WHO (2002) WHO interaction with civil society and nongovernmental organizations. WHO, Geneva.
[3] Lamptey, P. and Piot, P. (1990) The handbook for AIDS prevention in Africa. Family Health International, Durham.
[4] Mckee, M. and Healy, J. (2000) The role of the hospital in a changing environment. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78, 803-810.
[5] Clayton, A., Oakley, P. and Taylor, J. (2000) Civil society organization and service provision civil society and social movement program. Paper No. 2 October, 2000, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
[6] WHO (2001) Strong alliances: The role of civil society organisation in health, civil society initiative. External relations and Governing bodies. Discussion Paper No. 1, World Health Organization, Geneva.
[7] Putnam, R. (1993) Making democracy work: Civic Traditions in modern Italy. University Press, Princeton.
[8] Gellner, E. (1994) Conditions of liberty: Civil society and its rivals. Penguin, Harmondsworth.
[9] Bermeo, N. and Nord, P. (2000) Civil society before democracy: Lessons from nineteenth-century Europe. Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham.
[10] Steele, D.R. (2000) United Nations reform, civil and sometimes uncivil society. Transnational Association, 52, 282-290.
[11] The Asia Foundation (2008) Training needs assessment of civil society organisations in Vietnam: Organisational development and community mobilisation in the policy and law making process. TAF, Hanoi.
[12] Mkandawire, T. (1999). Social science and democracy: Debates in Africa. African Sociological Review, 3, 20-24. doi:10.4314/asr.v3i1.23154
[13] UNDP (2010) Beyond the midpoint: Achieving the millennium development goals. UNDP.
[14] Katusiimeh, M.W. (2006) Civil society organisations and democratic consolidation in Uganda. African Journal of International Affairs, 7, 99-116.
[15] Nanna, T., Makubuya A.N. and Nakirunda, M. (2002) A report of study on civil society in Uganda. Norad Study on Civil society in Uganda, Kampal.
[16] Kwesiga, B.J. and Ratter, J.A. (1993) Realizing the development potential of NGOs and community groups in Uganda. GoU/MoFEP.
[17] UBOS (2009) National service delivery survey report, 2008. UBOS, Kampala.
[18] Kish, L. (1965) Survey sampling. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
[19] Coetzee, D. (2001) South African education and ideology of patriarchy. South African Journal of Education, 21, 300-304.
[20] Shuaib, F., Kimbrough, D., Roofe, M. and McGwin Jr., J.P. (2010) Factors associated with incomplete immunisation among residents of St. Mary parish, Jamaica. West Indian Medicine Journal, 59, 103-121.
[21] Onwujekwe, O., Hanson, K. and Uzochukwu, B. (2012) Examining inequalities in incidence of catastrophic health expenditures on different healthcare services and health facilities in Nigeria. PLOS One, 7, e40811.
[22] WHO (1994) Health promotion and community action for health in developing countries. World Health Organization, Geneva.
[23] Malmberg, C.C. (1994) Case study on intermediate means of transport (IMT) Bicycle and rural women in Uganda. The World Bank and Economic Commission for Africa SSATP Working Paper No. 12, Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programs (SSATP).

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.