NIGERIAN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR WELLBEING

Abstract

Background: Universal Health Care (UHC), affordable, quality healthcare for the global population, is dependent on a Primary Health Care (PHC) approach and the availability of Human Resources for Health (HRH).

Nigeria suffers high maternal and child mortality rates, as well as the low life expectancies. How far has she come in her efforts to achieve UHC? How are current PHC systems being managed? How is she ensuring the wellbeing of her frontline workers?

Aim: To explore current management practices within the primary healthcare system and the wellbeing of frontline workers from the perspectives of Community Health Workers (CHWs), to better understand and document the realities at PHC level.

Methods: This was a narrative qualitative study lending concepts from the phenomenological approach. Participants were selected using non-random sampling methods. Data was collected through one-on-one interviews with CHWs using a semi-structured interview guide. The ensuing data was analysed thematically and using rich, thick description.

Findings: Despite several effort to strengthen the health system, there are still gross inadequacies partly due to mismanagement. And in a time of global HRH crisis, Nigeria is sitting on an untapped reserve of unemployed and under-employed health workers.

Conclusion: The findings show that Nigeria is still far from achieving UHC. Better governance and stable political buy-in are necessary for sustainably strengthening the system. One possible solution towards building HRH could be to harness the potential of underutilised health workers.