TY - JOUR
T1 - Uncovering the determinants of health in deprived urban neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana
T2 - a qualitative and participatory reconnaissance study
AU - Amedzro, Nina
AU - Anaseba, Dominic
AU - Darkwa, Akosua Gyasi
AU - Twumasi, Afua
AU - Ayim, Andrews
AU - Ansah-Ofei, Adelaide Maria
AU - Dovlo, Delanyo
AU - Awoonor-Williams, John K.
AU - Agongo, Erasmus Emmanuel Akurugu
AU - Agyepong, Irene Akua
AU - Elsey, Helen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Amedzro, Anaseba, Darkwa, Twumasi, Ayim, Ansah-Ofei, Dovlo, Awoonor-Williams, Agongo, Agyepong and Elsey.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: Delivering primary care services within the context of rapid urbanization and a changing disease burden is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural models of primary care, including the “Community-based Health Planning and Services” (CHPS) programme in Ghana, have shown improved health outcomes. However, adapting these to the urban context has proved problematic. Differences in the determinants of health found in these settings may help to explain the challenges of delivering CHPS in poor urban neighborhoods in Accra. To inform the redesign of CHPS for the urban context, we aimed to understand the determinants driving health and engagement with health services in three informal settlements in Accra. Methods: This study formed a reconnaissance phase for a subsequent participatory action research study. We used qualitative and participatory methods to explore the influence of wider and proximal determinants on health and the use and perceptions of CHPS. Three transect walks with community leaders across the study settings informed interview guides and the recruitment of suitable participants for key informant and focus group interviews. Using a Framework Approach, we analysed transcripts and reports from these activities and developed themes and sub-themes in participants’ experiences accessing healthcare. Results: Our findings highlight the importance of wider and proximal determinants of health including physical environment, gender and other social stratifiers including age, ethnicity, religion and disability, on health, health seeking behavior and personal behaviors such as substance misuse, tobacco use and alcohol. Utilization of CHPS was low and seen primarily as a service for maternal and child health. Private providers, ranging from informal drug stores to private clinics, were used most commonly. Community leaders and groups were active, but engagement was limited by opportunity costs for members. Conclusion: Traditional service delivery packages need to be adapted to include non-communicable diseases driven by risk behaviors such as tobacco, unhealthy diet, alcohol and substance abuse. Assets such as volunteerism and nurses embedded within communities are challenging to attain in complex urban settings, yet other assets exist including occupational associations and a range of informal and private providers that could support delivery of preventive and promotive health care with equitable reach.
AB - Background: Delivering primary care services within the context of rapid urbanization and a changing disease burden is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural models of primary care, including the “Community-based Health Planning and Services” (CHPS) programme in Ghana, have shown improved health outcomes. However, adapting these to the urban context has proved problematic. Differences in the determinants of health found in these settings may help to explain the challenges of delivering CHPS in poor urban neighborhoods in Accra. To inform the redesign of CHPS for the urban context, we aimed to understand the determinants driving health and engagement with health services in three informal settlements in Accra. Methods: This study formed a reconnaissance phase for a subsequent participatory action research study. We used qualitative and participatory methods to explore the influence of wider and proximal determinants on health and the use and perceptions of CHPS. Three transect walks with community leaders across the study settings informed interview guides and the recruitment of suitable participants for key informant and focus group interviews. Using a Framework Approach, we analysed transcripts and reports from these activities and developed themes and sub-themes in participants’ experiences accessing healthcare. Results: Our findings highlight the importance of wider and proximal determinants of health including physical environment, gender and other social stratifiers including age, ethnicity, religion and disability, on health, health seeking behavior and personal behaviors such as substance misuse, tobacco use and alcohol. Utilization of CHPS was low and seen primarily as a service for maternal and child health. Private providers, ranging from informal drug stores to private clinics, were used most commonly. Community leaders and groups were active, but engagement was limited by opportunity costs for members. Conclusion: Traditional service delivery packages need to be adapted to include non-communicable diseases driven by risk behaviors such as tobacco, unhealthy diet, alcohol and substance abuse. Assets such as volunteerism and nurses embedded within communities are challenging to attain in complex urban settings, yet other assets exist including occupational associations and a range of informal and private providers that could support delivery of preventive and promotive health care with equitable reach.
KW - community-based health planning and services
KW - determinants
KW - Ghana
KW - primary care
KW - public health
KW - social medicine
KW - urban health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207167810&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1457682
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1457682
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85207167810
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1457682
ER -