Factors Influencing Implementation of Community Based Health Projects: a Case of Selected Health Centres in Wajir County, Kenya

Abstract

Project success depends on time, budget and deliverables as set prior to the commencement and the actual results. The Northern part of Kenya is characterized by spatial population who majorly rely on livestock and move with them from one location to another in search of pastures. Therefore, setting up healthcare service centres will help improve the living standards of the community by providing them with an opportunity to access healthcare whenever need arise. The main purpose of this study was to establish the factors influencing implementation of community-based health projects among selected health centres in Wajir County, Kenya. This study was guided by the following objectives, determining the influence of funding on implementation of community-based health projects among selected health centres in Wajir County, Kenya; assessing the influence that community participation has on implementation of community-based health projects among selected health centres in Wajir County, Kenya; establishing how personnel competency influences implementation of community-based health projects among selected health centres in Wajir County, Kenya; and assessing the influence that stakeholder relationships has on implementation of community-based health projects among selected health centres in Wajir County, Kenya. The researcher applied a descriptive study design. The population of the study comprised of 31,550 respondents selected through stratified random sampling where the population was grouped into healthcare personnel, national administrator officers and project beneficiary households. Using a formula, the sample size of 384 respondents was contacted for the data collection. The study relied on primary data collected using questionnaires and focussed group discussions. Data analysis was done using descriptive and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings were presented in form of tables and figures. The study expected to come up with estimates on the rate of change in community project implementation following unit changes in each of the independent variable. It is expected that community participation influences project acceptability and uptake, personnel competence influences the speed and quality of project implementation, funding influences how projects are implemented and stakeholders influence the rate of project implementation. The study established that funding (p=0.003<0.05, t=3.021>1.96), community participation (p=0.000<0.05, t=7.267>1.96), personnel competency (p=0.000<0.05, t=4.646>1.96) and stakeholder relationship (p=0.000<0.05, t=6.325>1.96) all significantly influenced implementation of community-based health projects in Wajir county as their respective p values were less than 0.05 with t values greater than 1.96. The study concludes that funding, community participation, personnel competency and stakeholder relationship were critical factors affecting implementation of community-based health projects in Wajir county. The study recommends that Financing of all community-based health projects in Kenya should be based health on predeveloped budgets. Top management team charged with implementation of community-based health projects should first ensure that such projects are welcomed by community members. Management team of community-based health projects should ensure that employees engaged in health care projects possess necessary experience. Proper measures should be put in place to manage supplier relationships so as to promote implementation of community-based health projects in Kenya.