Determinants of commodity management practices in public health facilities in devolved health systems: a case of essential medicines in Makueni County, Kenya

Daniel I. Mwangi; Kezia Njoroge; Musa Oluoch

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230202

Authors

Daniel I. Mwangi Department of Health Systems Management, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi, Kenya
Kezia Njoroge Department of Health Systems Management, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi, Kenya
Musa Oluoch Department of Health Systems Management, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230202

Keywords:

Health workers training, Policies and institutional framework, Healthcare budgetary allocations, Available infrastructure, Commodity management practices, Essential medicines

Abstract

Background: Good health commodities management is an essential component of effective and affordable health care services globally. Curative, preventative and rehabilitative care involve the utlization of medicines and medical supplies. The specific focus of the research was on the impact of: healthcare worker training; policy and institutional framework; healthcare budgetary allocations; and, available infrastructure on effective management of essential medicines in publicly owned health facilities in a devolved system.

Methods: The researcher used descriptive cross-sectional research design and a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques in collecting both primary and secondary data. The study adopted a stratified random sampling procedure to choose targeted 50 public health facilities in Makueni County from a population of 162 health facilities. The calculated size of the sample was 96 respondents through stratified sampling technique. The analysed data was presented using tables, charts and narration for qualitative data.

Results: The study findings established that health worker training, health budgetary allocations and available infrastructure had significant and positive effect on management practices of essential medicine in Makueni County, Kenya. However, the effect of policy and institutional framework was found to insignificant in predicting the management practices of essential medicines in Makueni County.

Conclusions: The study concluded that healthcare sector is a dynamic sector that faces different changes on a daily basis. Health worker training; policies and institutional structures; budget allocation; and infrastructure need to be advanced to meet the expectations in the evolving healthcare sector.

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