Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study
Objective This paper examines the outcomes of the public sector capacity strengthening (PSCS) approach and how they contribute to the promotion of maternal, newborn, and child health, and nutrition (MNCH+N), family planning (FP) and malaria prevention-related outcomes.Design The qualitative study im...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e089214.full |
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| author | Pooja Sripad Augustine Ankomah Amanda Kalamar Adetayo Adetunji Bright Addo Dele Abegunde Nrupa Jani Tulsiani Foyeke Oyedokun-Adegbabo |
| author_facet | Pooja Sripad Augustine Ankomah Amanda Kalamar Adetayo Adetunji Bright Addo Dele Abegunde Nrupa Jani Tulsiani Foyeke Oyedokun-Adegbabo |
| author_sort | Pooja Sripad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective This paper examines the outcomes of the public sector capacity strengthening (PSCS) approach and how they contribute to the promotion of maternal, newborn, and child health, and nutrition (MNCH+N), family planning (FP) and malaria prevention-related outcomes.Design The qualitative study implemented from July to August of 2022 used the outcome harvesting methodology and key informant interviews to elicit information including most significant change (MSC) stories to evaluate project outcomes over 5 years (2017–2022).Setting The study was conducted in Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Ebonyi states of Nigeria.Participants The study focused on public sector stakeholders who were exposed to the PSCS intervention and were selected from government agencies. Nine study participants were engaged per state, bringing the total number of participants to 45. Data were analysed thematically and elicited MSC stories were analysed for content.Results The PSCS approach empowered stakeholders at the individual level to disseminate MNCH+N, FP and malaria prevention messages, monitor health and social and behaviour (SBC) activities and increase the demand for health services. At the organisational level, the approach facilitated coordination of SBC activities, enabled training cascades and promoted adherence to health service guidelines. At the system level, it strengthened ward development committees to address health challenges. Challenges hindering stakeholders’ application of PSCS-acquired skills include inadequate workforce, negative attitudes of health workers, funding constraints, cultural barriers, lack of government ownership and limited accessibility.Conclusions This study shows that the PSCS approach is an effective model to scale up capacity for SBC in MNCH+N, FP and malaria prevention programmes. In response to documented supply-side challenges impeding the application of gained knowledge and skill, we recommend inclusive health worker recruitment, sensitisation programmes for health workers, government ownership, improved security, healthcare infrastructure and transportation systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a000348fa6d24a468b8522a0260e3225 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-a000348fa6d24a468b8522a0260e32252025-01-21T08:00:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-01-0115110.1136/bmjopen-2024-089214Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative studyPooja Sripad0Augustine Ankomah1Amanda Kalamar2Adetayo Adetunji3Bright Addo4Dele Abegunde5Nrupa Jani Tulsiani6Foyeke Oyedokun-Adegbabo7Population Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USAPopulation Council, Accra, GhanaPopulation Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USAPopulation Council, Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaPopulation Council, Abuja, NigeriaPopulation Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USAUSAID, Abuja, NigeriaObjective This paper examines the outcomes of the public sector capacity strengthening (PSCS) approach and how they contribute to the promotion of maternal, newborn, and child health, and nutrition (MNCH+N), family planning (FP) and malaria prevention-related outcomes.Design The qualitative study implemented from July to August of 2022 used the outcome harvesting methodology and key informant interviews to elicit information including most significant change (MSC) stories to evaluate project outcomes over 5 years (2017–2022).Setting The study was conducted in Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Ebonyi states of Nigeria.Participants The study focused on public sector stakeholders who were exposed to the PSCS intervention and were selected from government agencies. Nine study participants were engaged per state, bringing the total number of participants to 45. Data were analysed thematically and elicited MSC stories were analysed for content.Results The PSCS approach empowered stakeholders at the individual level to disseminate MNCH+N, FP and malaria prevention messages, monitor health and social and behaviour (SBC) activities and increase the demand for health services. At the organisational level, the approach facilitated coordination of SBC activities, enabled training cascades and promoted adherence to health service guidelines. At the system level, it strengthened ward development committees to address health challenges. Challenges hindering stakeholders’ application of PSCS-acquired skills include inadequate workforce, negative attitudes of health workers, funding constraints, cultural barriers, lack of government ownership and limited accessibility.Conclusions This study shows that the PSCS approach is an effective model to scale up capacity for SBC in MNCH+N, FP and malaria prevention programmes. In response to documented supply-side challenges impeding the application of gained knowledge and skill, we recommend inclusive health worker recruitment, sensitisation programmes for health workers, government ownership, improved security, healthcare infrastructure and transportation systems.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e089214.full |
| spellingShingle | Pooja Sripad Augustine Ankomah Amanda Kalamar Adetayo Adetunji Bright Addo Dele Abegunde Nrupa Jani Tulsiani Foyeke Oyedokun-Adegbabo Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study BMJ Open |
| title | Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in Nigeria: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | improving health outcomes by strengthening public sector capacity in social and behaviour change programming in nigeria a qualitative study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e089214.full |
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