ArticleBMC public health2021
Barriers to the uptake of community-based curative child health services in Ethiopia.
Article in BMC public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review of the quality of care provided to sick children in Ethiopian health facilities.Journal of global health · 2024Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators of parental healthcare-seeking for sick young infants with possible serious bacterial infection in Ethiopia: a qualitative study using a socio ecological model.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Caregiver experiences and healthcare provider perspectives on managing sick young infants in primary care: a qualitative study in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.Tropical medicine and health · 2025Article
- The pathway to child survival in the Birhan Cohort, Ethiopia, 2018-22.Journal of global health · 2025Article
- Self-Medication with NSAIDs in Gondar city: prevalence, predictors, and public health implications.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Ubuntu philosophy as a strategy to promote access to under-five child healthcare services.Curationis · 2025Review
- Newborn care service utilization and associated factors among women who gave birth in Kore district, West Arsi zone, Ethiopia, 2022: a mixed method study.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Article
- Quality of sick child management by health extension workers: role of a complex improvement intervention.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Routine Healthcare Facility- and Antenatal Care-Based Malaria Surveillance: Challenges and Opportunities.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2023Article
- Determinants of stillbirth among reviewed perinatal deaths in Ethiopia.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2022Article
- Barriers to the utilization of community-based child and newborn health services in Ethiopia: a scoping review.Health policy and planning · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUptake of services to treat newborns and children has been persistently low in Ethiopia, despite being provided free-of-charge by Health Extension Workers (HEWs). In order to increase the uptake of these services, the Optimizing the Health Extension Project was designed to be implemented in four regions in Ethiopia. This study was carried out to identify barriers to the uptake of these services and potential solutions to inform the project.
methodsQualitative data were collected in October and November 2015 in 15 purposely selected districts in four regions. We conducted 90 focus group discussions and 60 in-depth interviews reaching a total of 664 participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify key barriers and potential solutions.
resultsFive demand-side barriers to utilization of health services were identified. Misconceptions about illness causation, compounded with preference for traditional healers has affected service uptake. Limited awareness of the availability of free curative services for children at health posts; along with the prevailing perception that HEWs were providing preventive services only had constrained uptake. Geographic challenge that made access to the health post difficult was the other barrier. Four supply-side barriers were identified. Health post closure and drug stock-out led to inconsistent availability of services. Limited confidence and skill among HEWs and under-resourced physical facilities affected the service delivery. Study participants suggested demand creation solutions such as increasing community awareness on curative service availability and educating them on childhood illness causation. Maintaining consistent supplies and ensuring service availability; along with regular support to build HEWs' confidence were the suggested supply-side solutions. Creating community feedback mechanisms was suggested as a way of addressing community concerns on the health services.
conclusionThis study explored nine demand- and supply-side barriers that decreased the uptake of community-based services. It indicated the importance of increasing awareness of new services and addressing prevailing barriers that deprioritize health services. At the same time, supply-side barriers would have to be tackled by strengthening the health system to uphold newly introduced services and harness sustainable impact.
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