Assessing How Existing Healthcare Resources Struggle to Address High Infectious Disease Incidence in Kampala, Uganda
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Introduction/Purpose: Informal urban settlements (empirically referred to as slums) are characterized by poor housing, inadequate healthcare resources, and high rates of infectious diseases. Women in slums are more severely impacted for a variety of reasons such as lack of access to education and gender inequity. We need to assess the perspectives of women living in these areas to successfully intervene. The purpose of the current study is to give the women in Kampala, Uganda a voice to promote change in their communities so that the healthcare industry can be improved.
Method: To assess the issues in existing healthcare services, researchers spoke to the affected women directly to get their perspectives. This was conducted using 6 focus groups of women from 3 different community center sites in Kampala, Uganda. These groups consisted of a total of 60 young women ranging from 18 years old to 25 years old. The method used to analyze the qualitative data was Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach. This consisted of creating codes and organizing themes, re-coding, and further organizing into four thematic clusters.
Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of healthcare vulnerabilities in the form of the four thematic clusters based on the perspectives of women who use these resources. For cluster 3 specifically, researchers found that the current healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed by need. The combination of there being a large quantity of sick people and the low quality of the centers leads to poor health outcomes.
Conclusion: It is necessary for us to know what changes to be made through the perspectives of the women in Kampala. By understanding the problem firsthand, we have a better chance to find an appropriate solution. This research is pivotal to the process of improving healthcare resources in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Health Promotion and Physical Education
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Matthew Lyons
Assessing How Existing Healthcare Resources Struggle to Address High Infectious Disease Incidence in Kampala, Uganda
Introduction/Purpose: Informal urban settlements (empirically referred to as slums) are characterized by poor housing, inadequate healthcare resources, and high rates of infectious diseases. Women in slums are more severely impacted for a variety of reasons such as lack of access to education and gender inequity. We need to assess the perspectives of women living in these areas to successfully intervene. The purpose of the current study is to give the women in Kampala, Uganda a voice to promote change in their communities so that the healthcare industry can be improved.
Method: To assess the issues in existing healthcare services, researchers spoke to the affected women directly to get their perspectives. This was conducted using 6 focus groups of women from 3 different community center sites in Kampala, Uganda. These groups consisted of a total of 60 young women ranging from 18 years old to 25 years old. The method used to analyze the qualitative data was Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach. This consisted of creating codes and organizing themes, re-coding, and further organizing into four thematic clusters.
Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of healthcare vulnerabilities in the form of the four thematic clusters based on the perspectives of women who use these resources. For cluster 3 specifically, researchers found that the current healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed by need. The combination of there being a large quantity of sick people and the low quality of the centers leads to poor health outcomes.
Conclusion: It is necessary for us to know what changes to be made through the perspectives of the women in Kampala. By understanding the problem firsthand, we have a better chance to find an appropriate solution. This research is pivotal to the process of improving healthcare resources in Sub-Saharan Africa.