Citizen Participation and Performance of Health Centres in Wakiso District , Uganda: A case of selected Health Centres in Nansana Municipality

Abstract

The study examined the effect of citizen participation on the performance of health centres in Wakiso district in Uganda taking the case of selected HCs in Nansana Municipality. This study was motivated by concerns about poor accountability and misappropriation of public resources like medicines that was perhaps occasioned by inadequate participation of citizens in healthcare activities. This study investigated the following objectives: to examine the effect of participatory planning on the performance of Nansolo, Nabweru and Nakuule HCs; to determine the effect of participatory implementation on the performance of Nansolo, Nabweru and Nakuule HCs; and to examine the effect of participatory monitoring and evaluation (M & E) on the performance of Nansolo, Nabweru and Nakuule HCs in Nansana MC, Wakiso district. The study adopted the case study research design with survey strategy covering a sample of 112 respondents using documentary review, interview, questionnaire survey and focus group discussion methods. The study found a very strong and positive correlation between participatory planning and performance of Health Centres (HC) and participatory implementation and performance of Health Centres (HC) while correlations between participatory monitoring and evaluation was found to be moderately strong. Regression results indicated statistically significant relationships between the variables. The study concluded that in order to achieve enhanced HC performance, citizens should meaningfully participate in the entire healthcare planning process, implementation and M & E of healthcare activities. The study recommended that the Ministry of Health (MoH), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) should develop the capacity of HC staff in participatory approaches to healthcare service delivery; the Municipal Public Health Officer, CSOs and NGOs should increase citizen awareness and sensitize them on participation in healthcare activities, conduct M & E, produce scorecards, arrange public hearings and barrazas not only to provide citizens with vital information but also to receive their views and reactions.