Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Dec 23;5(12):e009296.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009296.

Feasibility of health systems strengthening in South Sudan: a qualitative study of international practitioner perspectives

Abigail Jones  1 , Natasha Howard  1 , Helena Legido-Quigley  2
Affiliations

Feasibility of health systems strengthening in South Sudan: a qualitative study of international practitioner perspectives

Abigail Jones et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: To explore the feasibility of health systems strengthening from the perspective of international healthcare implementers and donors in South Sudan.

Design: A qualitative interview study, with thematic analysis using the WHO health system building blocks framework.

Setting: South Sudan.

Participants: 17 health system practitioners, working for international agencies in South Sudan, were purposively sampled for their knowledge and experiences of health systems strengthening, services delivery, health policy and politics in South Sudan.

Results: Participants universally reported the health workforce as insufficient and of low capacity and service delivery as poor, while access to medicines was restricted by governmental lack of commitment in undertaking procurement and supply. However, progress was clear in improved county health department governance, health management information system functionality, increased health worker salary harmonisation and strengthened financial management.

Conclusions: Resurgent conflict and political tensions have negatively impacted all health system components and maintaining or continuing health system strengthening has become extremely challenging. A coordinated approach to balancing humanitarian need particularly in conflict-affected areas, with longer term development is required so as not to lose improvements gained.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of South Sudan showing distribution of donor funding mechanisms (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2012).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Pendle N. Interrupting the balance: reconsidering the complexities of conflict in South Sudan. Disasters 2014;38:227–48. 10.1111/disa.12055 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hutton L. SOUTH SUDAN from fragility at independence to a crisis of sovereignty. The Hague: Conflict Research Unit, The Clingendael Institute, Netherlands Institute of International Relations, 2014.
    1. BBC News. South Sudan Conflict: UN imposes sanctions on generals. 6 September 2015.
    1. 2015. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Sexual violence in conflict: South Sudan, from the Report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council (S/2015/203) http://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/countries/south-sudan/
    1. International Crisis Group. South Sudan: a civil war by any other name 2014. http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/horn-of-africa/south-sudan/...

Substances

LinkOut - more resources