Behind the Data: Establishing the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Amos, Ben; Kisakye, Annet; Makewa, Douglas; Mudhune, Sandra; Mwamtemi, Hadija; Nansera, Dennis; Ngwiri, Thomas; Wamae, Maranga; English, Mike

doi:10.1086/596496

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…As shown in tables 2 and 3, it is obvious that isolation of bacteria as a reflection of microbiological performance of laboratories was low at some sites. This has the potential to increase the frequency of misdiagnosis and is an issue that is further discussed in the article by Ben Amos et al [5] that appears elsewhere in this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.…”

Section: Frommentioning

confidence: 99%

Report on Invasive Disease and Meningitis due toHaemophilus influenzaeandStreptococcus pneumoniafrom the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Mudhune

Wamae

2009

CLIN INFECT DIS

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Pneumococcal disease in young children has not been as well characterized in East Africa as it has been in industrialized countries. Although pneumococci are likely to cause substantial mortality and morbidity, universal diagnostic challenges plus the rudimentary nature of public health surveillance make the true epidemiological characteristics of these diseases difficult to ascertain with these methods alone. However, local data are critical to inform the debate on vaccine deployment and assess vaccine impact. The Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region has worked to expand the World Health Organization Paediatric Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance Network-initiated surveillance process aimed at Haemophilus influenza type b to perform surveillance on pneumococcal diseases. A total of 119 H. influenzae isolates from children aged >2 years but <5 years of age have been confirmed. Eighty-three isolates (69.75%) were serotype b, 19 belonged to other capsular antigen groups, and 17 were nontypable. For Streptococcus pneumoniae, a total of 442 isolates were confirmed to be pneumococci; 302 isolates were from blood cultures, and 140 were from cultures of cerebrospinal fluid. Most of the isolates were obtained from patients in the 6-29-month age group; in this age group, overall coverage by the heptavalent vaccine was 56% (increasing to 67% with the addition of cross-protection due to serotype 6A). S. pneumoniae isolates are susceptible to most commonly used antibiotics, with the exception of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and have exhibited no resistance to penicillin. A surveillance network is in place to provide local data on the importance of S. pneumoniae as a cause of both meningitis and bacteremia. Serotypes in the currently available heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine and related serotypes account for two-thirds of invasive pneumococcal disease among children aged 6-29 months.

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Section: Frommentioning

confidence: 99%

Report on Invasive Disease and Meningitis due toHaemophilus influenzaeandStreptococcus pneumoniafrom the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Mudhune

Wamae

2009

CLIN INFECT DIS

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“…The diagnostic support of laboratories is essential for a wide range of diseases and testing purposes, both from clinical [1] and public health perspectives [2]. Numerous global initiatives in Africa have focused on clinical laboratory harmonization and standardization [3], and on laboratory accreditation [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting job satisfaction and retention of medical laboratory professionals in seven countries of Sub-Saharan Africa

Marinucci

Majigo²,

Wattleworth

et al. 2013

Hum Resour Health

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Effective implementation and sustainability of quality laboratory programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa relies on the development of appropriate staff retention strategies. Assessing the factors responsible for job satisfaction and retention is key for tailoring specific interventions aiming at improving the overall impact of health programmes. A survey was developed to assess these factors among 224 laboratorians working in the laboratory programme the University of Maryland implemented in seven Sub-Saharan African countries. Lack of professional development was the major reason for leaving the previous job for 28% of interviewees who changed jobs in the past five years. Professional development/training opportunities was indicated by almost 90% (195/224) of total interviewees as the most important or a very important factor for satisfaction at their current job. Similarly, regular professional development/opportunities for training was the highest rated incentive to remain at their current job by 80% (179/224). Laboratory professionals employed in the private sector were more likely to change jobs than those working in the public sector (P = 0.002). The findings were used for developing specific strategies for human resources management, in particular targeting professional development, aiming at improving laboratory professionals within the University of Maryland laboratory programme and hence its long-term sustainability.

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“…Previous work in Kenyan public hospitals has revealed leadership gaps and poor communication between senior administration and lower cadres as an impediment to achieving better practice [55,56]. Management training for senior health professionals has been recognized as a priority and is now being provided [57].…”

Section: Relevance To Kenyan Hospitalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Service delivery in Kenyan district hospitals – what can we learn from literature on mid-level managers?

2013

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BackgroundThere is a growing emphasis on the need to tackle inadequate human resources for health (HRH) as an essential part of strengthening health systems; but the focus is mostly on macro-level issues, such as training, recruitment, skill mix and distribution. Few attempts have been made to understand the capability of health workers, their motivation and other structural and organizational aspects of systems that influence workforce performance. We have examined literature on the roles of mid-level managers to help us understand how they might influence service delivery quality in Kenyan hospitals. In the Kenyan hospital settings, these are roles that head of departments who are also clinical or nursing service providers might play.MethodsA computerized search strategy was run in Pub Med, Cochrane Library, Directory of Open Access Journals Social Science Research Network, Eldis, Google Scholar and Human Resources for Health web site databases using both free-text and MeSH terms from 1980 to 2011. In addition, citation searching from excluded and included articles was used and relevant unpublished literature systematically identified.Results and discussionA total of 23 articles were finally included in the review from over 7000 titles and abstracts initially identified. The most widely documented roles of mid-level managers were decision-making or problem-solving, strategist or negotiator and communicator. Others included being a therapist or motivator, goal setting or articulation and mentoring or coaching. In addition to these roles, we identified important personal attributes of a good manager, which included interpersonal skills, delegation and accountability, and honesty. The majority of studies included in the review concerned the roles that mid-level managers are expected to play in times of organizational change.ConclusionThis review highlights the possible significance of mid-level managers in achieving delivery of high-quality services in Kenyan public hospitals and strongly suggests that approaches to strengthen this level of management will be valuable. The findings from this review should also help inform empirical studies of the roles of mid-level managers in these settings.

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Behind the Data: Establishing the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Cited by 12 publications

References 3 publications

Report on Invasive Disease and Meningitis due toHaemophilus influenzaeandStreptococcus pneumoniafrom the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Report on Invasive Disease and Meningitis due toHaemophilus influenzaeandStreptococcus pneumoniafrom the Network for Surveillance of Pneumococcal Disease in the East African Region

Factors affecting job satisfaction and retention of medical laboratory professionals in seven countries of Sub-Saharan Africa

Service delivery in Kenyan district hospitals – what can we learn from literature on mid-level managers?

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