233673 Translating research to policy: Addressing human resource challenges to accelerate attainment of the MDGs in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Zainab Muhammad-Idris, MPH, PGDPPA, PGDS, MBBS , International Health Department, Abt Associates Nigeria Partnership for Transforming Health Systems-Phase II (PATHS2) Programme, Kaduna, Nigeria
Garba Safiyanu, FMCOG, FWACS, MSc, MBBS , International Health Department, Abt Associates Nigeria Partnership for Transforming Health Systems-Phase II (PATHS2) Programme, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Jean Damascene Butera, MPH , Ihd, Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD
Mike Egboh, Mr , International Health Division, Abt Associates, Bethesda, MD
Muhammad Okwudiri Okorie, MSc, BSc Economics (Hons) , International Health Department, Abt Associates Nigeria Partnership for Transforming Health Systems-Phase II (PATHS2) Programme, Kaduna, Nigeria
Background: Lack of adequate health personnel with relevant skills is a threat to the successful implementation of health programs, including the attainment of Millennium Development Goals. Purpose:To determine the health workforce information in relation to: current stock, distribution, production/supply, attrition, and HR management systems (HRM) in a resource-challenged state. Specific objectives are to determine availability and distribution of HRH; identify and describe HRH issues that will inform policy and priority interventions; the training needs of different cadres of health staff in the state health sector; and formulate recommendations on addressing identified HRH situation/needs in Kaduna State.

Design/Method: A cross sectional study that used combined assessment methods comprising of quantitative and qualitative as well as desk reviews.

Results: Decline in enrolment and graduation rates of potential health care workers in the face of increasing shortage of teachers,Skewed distribution of the state health workforce across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Care, Majority of health workers are not able to maintain and improve their professional competencies especially by those from facilities operated by Local governments (42.0%), and training needs for the different cadres of health workers, the duration and justification/reasons for training; the level of satisfaction with past trainings, and the suggestions for way forward were also established.

Lessons Learned/Recommendations:

• The assessment led to the development of a HRH policy brief,a tool for a HRH state-specific policy & strategy • The HRH policy/strategic plan should provide a framework to guide and direct interventions, investments and decision making in the planning, management and development of human resources for health. • Finally, as this assessment represent only a sample; development partners and other researchers will need to assist the state in conducting a comprehensive health workforce census in order to determine the exact number, skill mix, gender and distribution of the state health workforce.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Analyze key findings of the HRH and Training Needs Assessment of a state with a population of well over 6 million. Findings from this assessment formed the basis for the design and implementation of a robust strategy that will address the multi-faceted challenges of the health workforce, which is threatening to derail the likelihood of Nigeria attaining the MDGs. Implementation of such strategy will position policy makers make informed decisions towards improving quality of health care through effective and efficient HRH planning, development and management.

Keywords: Assessments, Health Care Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the current State Team Leader for the DFID-supported second phase Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (i.e. PATHS2) Programme, I believe I am well qualified tomake this presentation for a survey that I coordinated. In this position, I provide oversight for the overall coordination, management and provision of technical leadership for the PATHS2 Programme in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Before joining the PATHS2 Program, I had served as the Senior Technical Adviser (STA) and Team Leader on the 5-year DFID-funded “Strengthening Nigeria’s Response” (SNR) to HIV/AIDS Programme in Kaduna State, where I steered the development of the programme’s strategy implementation that resulted in the establishment of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS as well as the development of its first ever state-specific Multi-sectoral Strategic HIV/AIDS plan (2007 to 2011) that currently guides the HIV/AIDS response in the state.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5007.0: Latebreaking epidemiology poster session 2: Chronic disease and social epidemiology