Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37971963›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2023

Budget monitoring, accountability practices and their influence on the efficiency of county health systems in Kenya.

Anita Musiega, Lizah Nyawira, Benjamin Tsofa, Rebecca G Njuguna, Joshua Munywoki, Kara Hanson, Andrew Mulwa, Sassy Molyneux, Isabel Maina, Charles Normand and 2 more

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Article in PLOS global public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Anita MusiegaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6765-295X
Lizah NyawiraHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
Benjamin TsofaHealth Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1000-1771
Rebecca G NjugunaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2378-3215
Joshua MunywokiHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kara HansonFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Andrew MulwaDirectorate of Medical Services, Preventive and Promotive Health, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sassy MolyneuxHealth Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
Isabel MainaHealth Financing Department, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya.
Charles NormandCentre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0885-5754
Julie JemutaiHealth Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
Edwine BarasaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Public Finance Management (PFM) practices influence the attainment of health system goals. PFM processes are implemented within the budget cycle which entails the formulation, execution, and monitoring of government budgets. Budget monitoring and accountability actors, structures, and processes are important in improving the efficiency of health systems. This study examined how the budget monitoring and accountability processes influence the efficiency of county health systems in KenyaWe conducted a qualitative case study of four counties in Kenya selected based on their relative technical efficiency. We collected data using in-depth interviews with health and finance stakeholders (n = 70), and document reviews. We analyzed data using a thematic approach, informed by our study conceptual framework. We found that weak budget monitoring and accountability mechanisms compromised county health system efficiency by a) weakening the effective implementation of the budget formulation and execution steps of the budget cycle, b) enabling the misappropriation of public resources, and c) limiting evidence-informed decision-making by weakening feedback that would be provided by effective monitoring and accountability. Devolution meant that accountability actors were closer to implementation actors which promoted timely problem solving and the relevance of solutions. Internal audit practices were supportive and provided useful feedback to health system managers that facilitated improvements in budget formulation and execution. The efficiency of county health systems can be improved by strengthening the budget monitoring and accountability processes. This can be achieved by increasing the population's budget literacy, supporting participatory budgeting, synchronizing performance and financial accountability, implementing the existent budget monitoring and accountability mechanisms, rewarding efficiency, and sanctioning inefficiency.

Identifiers

PMID37971963
PMCPMC10653478

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.