Operationalization of the Ghanaian Patients’ Charter in a Peri-urban Public Hospital: Voices of Healthcare Workers and Patients

Abstract

Background: Health is a basic human right necessary for the exercise of other human rights. Every human being is, therefore, entitled to the highest possible standard of health necessary to living a life of dignity. Establishment of patients' Charter is a step towards protecting the rights and responsibilities of patients, but violation of patients' rights is common in healthcare institutions, especially in the developing world. This study which was conducted between May 2013 and May 2014, assessed the operationalization of Ghana's Patients Charter in a peri-urban public hospital. Methods: Qualitative data collection methods were used to collect data from 25 healthcare workers and patients who were purposively selected. The interview data were analyzed manually, using the principles of systematic text condensation. Results:The findings indicate that the healthcare staff of the Polyclinic are aware of the existence of the patients' Charter and also know some of its contents. Patients have no knowledge of the existence or the contents of the Charter. Availability of the Charter, community sensitization, monitoring and orientation of staff are factors that promote the operationalization of the Charter, while institutional implementation procedures such as lack of complaint procedures and low knowledge among patients militate against operationalization of the Charter. Conclusion: Public health facilities should ensure that their patients are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities to facilitate effective implementation of the Charter. Also, patients' rights and responsibilities can be dramatized and broadcasted on television and radio in major Ghanaian languages to enhance awareness of Ghanaians on the Charter.

Anemia, micronutrient deficiencies, malaria, hemoglobinopathies and malnutrition in young children and non-pregnant women in Ghana: Findings from a national survey

“…Child stunting affected close to 20% of the children under 5 years of age, a prevalence that is slightly lower but comparable to the 2014 DHS [40]. The prevalence was higher in rural children, and decreased with increasing household wealth.…”

“…The prevalence was higher in rural children, and decreased with increasing household wealth. A slightly higher proportion of children in the GMS were diagnosed as wasted than in the DHS 2014 [40], 7.1% versus 4.7%. The difference in wasting may be partly explained by seasonality: the DHS 2014 was conducted following the rainy season, from September to December, when local foodstuffs are more abundant, while the GMS 2017 fieldwork was conducted at the end of the dry season, between April and May, with limited food availability.…”

“…Eight percent of women and 20% of children tested positive for malaria by RDT, with a lower prevalence among children in urban areas and in households in the highest wealth quintile. In the DHS 2014 [40], a higher prevalence (36%) of positive malaria RDT was observed in children. These differences can be explained by the different transmission patterns as the GMS 2017 was conducted before and the DHS 2014 after the rainy season.…”

Health care reform in Iran: Implications for nurses’ moral distress, patient rights, satisfaction and turnover intention

“…When workload increases, nurses are more likely to face moral tensions and to experience moral distress (Corley et al., ; Karanikola et al., ). In such situations the likelihood of a turnover intention in the profession (Atabay et al., ; Atashzadeh‐Shoorideh, Ashktorab, Yaghmaei, & Alavi Majd, ) and the likelihood of not respecting the rights of patients will increase (Yarney, Buabeng, Baidoo, & Bawole, ). This cycle of increasing workload, non‐observance of patient rights, increased moral tensions and a desire to leave the workforce will exacerbate the ever‐increasing shortage of nursing personnel.…”

Influence of patients’ rights charter on health systems responsiveness in selected counties in Kenya: health care provider perspective

“…The use of directives coupled with supportive supervision has been associated with better outcomes of implementation of policy to achieve desired change. 25,26 The study findings indicate that overall, health care providers are aware of responsiveness and perceived the primary health care facilities as being responsive. These findings are similar to other studies that found that health care providers rated knowledge on responsiveness to be high in various health service delivery systems.…”