Determinants of Healthcare Service Delivery in Kenya: A Case Study of Health Centres in Nyamira County

Abstract

In Kenya, healthcare industry service delivery has become a real factor in realizing. The sector of public health has the mandate of ensuring patients are receiving the most efficient health services. However, it is worth noting that realization of this has so far remained a challenge. By the start of the millennium, due to misappropriation of resources, lack of health care personnel and not embracing modern technology, quality of these health services in Kenya has been deteriorating. Therefore, this research study aimed at investigating the various factors affecting delivery of these health care services particularly in reference to Health Centers in Nyamira County. A Conceptual framework illustrating the relationship between (the independent variables-factors) status of employee capacity, technology advancement and availability of financial resources, and how they influence service delivery in the Public health sector in Kenya (dependent variable- outcome) was developed. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach in data collection process. The population of the study comprised of patients, healthcare givers (doctors, nurses, clinical officers, lab technologies and pharmacists), county health administrators and elected leaders estimated at 1680. A proposed sample size of 323 was used and spread across the various strata as identified. This sample size was considered comprehensive in the coverage of the study objectives. A semi-structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to collect data from respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 was used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data while thematic analysis was be used for qualitative data. The study concluded that quality of healthcare provision by the public hospitals in the county had improved, health facilities have been networked to enable information sharing and reduce paper work. However. Nyamira County have not managed the resources prudently and that there was lack of transparency in most areas of the health facilities.