An evaluation of the implementation of capacity building strategies in the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi

Chowawa, Rosemary Shanice

Title: An evaluation of the implementation of capacity building strategies in the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi
Creator: Chowawa, Rosemary Shanice
Subject: Medical care -- Malawi
Subject: Public health -- Malawi
Subject: Health services accessibility -- Malawi
Subject: Community development -- Malawi
Subject: Strategic planning -- Malawi
Subject: Human services -- Malawi
Subject: Administration
Subject: Capacity -- Capacity building
Subject: Efficiency -- Effectiveness
Subject: Management -- Public administration
Subject: Organising -- Planning
Subject: Policy making
Date: 2012
Type: Thesis
Type: Masters
Type: MPA
Identifier: vital:11673
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007122
Identifier: Medical care -- Malawi
Identifier: Public health -- Malawi
Identifier: Health services accessibility -- Malawi
Identifier: Community development -- Malawi
Identifier: Strategic planning -- Malawi
Identifier: Human services -- Malawi
Identifier: Administration
Identifier: Capacity -- Capacity building
Identifier: Efficiency -- Effectiveness
Identifier: Management -- Public administration
Identifier: Organising -- Planning
Identifier: Policy making
Description: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of implementing capacity building strategies on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The study intended to determine why a lack of quality services is still prevailing in the health services in the central region despite implementing capacity building strategies aimed at improving the delivery of health services. In addition to this, to come up with recommendations to improve the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies so that the implementation results in the intended impact, that is efficient and effective provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The studies reviewed what various scholars have written on capacity building in order to ground capacity building in Public Administration and provide the study with a conceptual, theoretical and legislative framework. This enabled the researcher to describe the nature and place of capacity building in Public Administration. It was evident from the review that the implementation of capacity building strategies is a systematic process which requires that chief officials follow all the steps in order to effectively and efficiently implement the capacity building strategies so that the intended impact is achieved. In this regard, capacity building is a management function which requires that chief officials play an enabling role by providing the necessary resources (both human and financial) and policies that support the implementation of capacity building strategies. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods whereby thirty-five respondents composed of political office-bearers and chief officials from Lilongwe, Dedza, Mchinji and Dowa districts and Ministry of Health Headquarters in the central region of Malawi were given self-administered questionnaires to complete. Face-to-face interviews and document analysis were also used as research methods. The intention was to determine the problems that are being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies and find out if the strategies are resulting in the intended impact. The study findings confirmed that there are indeed problems being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies, namely: inadequate human and financial resources, corruption, political interference, lack of consultation with stakeholders and lack of political will to make sure that the implementation of the capacity building strategies is effectively and efficiently done. It was also revealed that the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies is impacting negatively on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi, hence indicating a need to change in approach. The study concludes that in order for the capacity building strategies to achieve the intended impact there is a need to broaden the scope of the legal framework on health capacity building strategies in Malawi, enforce the use of performance standards and improve the operational framework to gain efficiencies and effectiveness from current investments in capacity building.
Format: 123 leaves; 30 cm
Format: pdf
Publisher: University of Fort Hare
Publisher: Faculty of Management & Commerce
Language: English
Rights: University of Fort Hare

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