Clinical governance and quality of health services in Public Health Facilities: Evidence from three councils in Tanzania

Abstract

Objective: Our objective was to assess clinical governance and the quality of health services in public primary health facilities in three councils of Arusha Region.

Participants: We conducted a study involving 270 clients from 19 primary health facilities in three councils in Arusha Region.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. The clients were selected using multistage-cluster sampling. Data were collected using exit interview and observation. A descriptive statistical method was used to analyse data.

Results: We found that health facilities had the key policies and structures for quality improvement and limited governance for quality of health services. In total,109(43%) of the clients reported receiving all the prescribed medicines and 230 (85%) of the clients had a positive experience with care processes. Also, 181(72%) of the clients were satisfied with the health services and 230 (85%) of clients had confidence and trust in public primary health facilities.

Conclusion: This research has generated valuable evidence on governance and the quality of health services offered in public primary health facilities in three councils of the Arusha Region. Our research has indicated that: facilities had limited governance for quality of health services and clients had limited access to essential medicines; the majority of clients had a positive experience with the processes of health care; the majority of clients were satisfied with health services offered and had confidence and trust in public primary health facilities. The empirical evidence of this study should inform quality improvement efforts in the studied councils and Tanzania.