Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Nov 11;21(1):2074. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12096-7.
The importance of health policy implementation cannot be overemphasized in contemporary public health. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) have negatively impacted society, affect quality of life and make the poor societies poorer. Several policies and strategies have been put in place across the world including the neglected tropical diseases programme in Ghana. Though chalked many successes, the programme continues to lag behind in the full attainment of various objectives. Several factors exist that determine how effective a programme is implemented. Identification of these factors on every programme is essential to determine where more programme resources need to be channelled. This study assessed the determinants of successful implementation of the neglected tropical diseases programme in Ghana.
A qualitative approach with the case study design was employed. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify key programme officers at the national, regional and district levels of programme implementation. Eighteen (18) Key informant interviews were conducted at all the three levels of the Ghana Health Service NTDs programme. Data were thematically analysed and presented.
Findings from the study revealed that determinants that influenced the successful implementation of the NTDs programme include donor support, education and training, partnerships, reliability of the health structure, integrative nature of the programme and management commitment. These determining factors cut across the inner settings of the implementing agency and the external environment.
Neglected tropical diseases continuously affect Ghanaians, especially the poor. It is important for both policy makers and implementers to identify the factors that ensure the success of the programme in the Ghanaian context. Though the factors are independently sufficient, they synergistically lead to improved programme implementation. Empowering all units involved (local to national level) and maximizing the enabling factors identified to would improve upon implementation and ensure sustainability.
在当代公共卫生中，重视卫生政策的实施是非常重要的。被忽视的热带病（NTDs）对社会产生了负面影响，影响生活质量，使贫困社会更加贫困。全世界已经制定了一些政策和战略，包括加纳的被忽视热带病方案。尽管取得了许多成功，但该方案在实现各种目标方面仍落后。有几个因素决定了一个方案的实施效果。确定每个方案的这些因素对于确定需要将更多方案资源投入到哪里是至关重要的。本研究评估了加纳实施被忽视热带病方案的决定因素。
采用定性方法和案例研究设计。采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样技术，确定国家、地区和地区各级方案实施的主要方案官员。在加纳卫生服务 NTD 方案的所有三个层次上，都进行了 18 次关键知情者访谈。对数据进行了主题分析和呈现。
研究结果表明，影响 NTDs 方案成功实施的决定因素包括捐助者支持、教育和培训、伙伴关系、卫生结构的可靠性、方案的综合性以及管理承诺。这些决定因素贯穿于执行机构的内部环境和外部环境。
被忽视的热带病不断影响加纳人，特别是贫困人口。政策制定者和执行者都有必要确定在加纳背景下确保方案成功的因素。虽然这些因素是独立充分的，但它们协同作用导致方案实施的改善。赋予所有参与单位（从地方到国家一级）权力，并最大限度地发挥确定的有利因素，将提高实施效果并确保可持续性。
