Determinants of Quality of Healthcare Delivery in Devolved Systems: Case Study of Lamu County, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Kimani, John Mburu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
kenyatta university
Abstract
Devolved government is a form of administration that is permitted by Article 6 of the
Kenyan Constitution. Its two political and administrative arms, the Legislature, and
the Executive, are divided among the 47 counties. Devolution contributes to this goal
by delegating control, authority, and representation to local levels. The passage of
numerous bills by Parliament to lay the groundwork for implementation and adoption
has aided in the realization of devolution's goals. Kenya's healthcare statistics paint an
unsettling picture due to a lack of medical facilities, personnel, equipment, and
supplies. In order to receive healthcare, patients may use over-the-counter
medications, conventional medical services, or private healthcare facilities, while
others may succumb to this circumstance. The purpose of the current study is to
identify the variables influencing the provision of medical care services, with
particular reference to Lamu County, Kenya. In particular, the study aimed to
ascertain how government funding, the degree of service delivery quality, the
institutional framework for health services, and the usage of information and
communication technologies affect health care delivery in Lamu County. The study
was guided by agency theory and stakeholder theory. A descriptive research design
was used for this investigation. The 143,920 individuals that comprise the study's
target group were both hospitalized patients and hospital-based healthcare workers.
To select 399 respondents, a straightforward random sampling approach was used.
The necessary sample size was calculated using the Yamane formula and a level of
confidence of 95%. The researcher collected data using a semi-structured
questionnaire. The researcher used the "Drop and Pick Later" data collection method
to allow respondents sufficient time to respond to the study's questions. A pilot study
consisting of ten respondents who were not included in the final poll was done. The
reliability of the study was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha, and an alpha
of 0.7 or above indicated that the instruments were reliable. The research permits
were sought from various authority in order to uphold ethical consideration. A
combination of descriptive analysis and content analysis was utilized for analysis of
the data collected. Descriptive analysis was used to investigate the quantitative
elements, such as the size of the human resource, health facilities, the working hours,
and the demographics of the respondents. On the other hand, content analysis was
used to examine the theoretical conclusions of the research. The studied data was
illustrated using frequency data tables, pie charts, and bar graphs. The study also came
to the conclusion that the distribution of resources has a big impact on how well
health services are delivered in Kenya. The study recommends that in order to
enhance the delivery of healthcare services, both National and County should
implement a set of deliberate and proactive processes, rules, and structures that
support board size.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law Arts
And Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the
Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Masters of
Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University.
Keywords
Healthcare Delivery, Devolved Systems, Lamu County, Kenya