Impact of Devolution on Healthcare Infrastructure a Case Study of Bomet County

Abstract

The study was1 to investigate1 the1 impact of devolution on healthcare1 infrastructure1 in Bomet County. The1 specific objectives1 of the1 study were1 to: investigate1 the1 impact of devolution on the1 number of medical1 equipment in Bomet County, investigate1 whether devolution has1 led to an increase1 in the1 capacity of healthcare1 physical1 infrastructure1 - public hospitals, laboratories, and hospital1 ward capacity in Bomet County, and investigate1 whether devolution has1 led to an increase1 in the1number of ambulances1 in Bomet County. The1 study adopted a descriptive1 survey research design. The1 target population of the1 study was1 143 public health facilities1 in Bomet County. They included 5 hospitals, one1 medical1 center, 110 dispensaries, and 27 health centers. The1 sample1 size1 was1 103 public health facilities. The1 study used primary and secondary data to conclude1 the1 study, and a questionnaire1was1 used in collecting1 primary data. Data analysis1was1 done1 using1 the1 Statistical1 Package1 for Social1 Sciences1 (SPSS). The1 process1 involved sorting1 out the1 questionnaires, coding, data entry, and eventual1 generation of analysis1 summarized as1 frequencies, percentages, and measures1 of central1 tendencies1 summarized in tables1 and graphs. Inferential1 statistics1 involving1 the1 use1 of regression analysis1 were1 used to draw conclusions1 for the1 study. The1 study results1 indicate1 a positive1 impact of devolution on the1 number of medical1 equipment in Bomet County, as1 shown by r=0.411 and p-value=0.001. In addition, the1 research findings1 also showed a strong1 positive1 impact of devolution on the1 number of healthcare1 physical1 infrastructure- public hospitals, laboratories, and hospital1 ward capacity in Bomet County, as1 demonstrated by r=0.638 and p-value= 0.00. Additionally, the1 research findings1 showed a positive1 impact of devolution on the1number of ambulances1 in Bomet County, as1 shown by r= 0.525 and p-value=0.00. To conclude, the1 study recommends1 that Bomet county government should seek more collaborative partnerships with aid organizations to support better infrastructure development within the county on matters medical equipment, ICU departments, radiology departments, renal departments and the rolling out of mobile clinics within the County. The study recommends that Bomet County government should expand their financing of the healthcare sector within the county as this will help in expanding the provision of healthcare services in the county. The1 county government should ensure1 that sub-county hospitals1 - Ndanai, Kapkoros, Sigor, and Cheptalal should have1 operational1 Intensive1Care1 Unit departments. The research further recommends that Bomet County Government should seek alliances with the National government to boost availability of ambulance services within the county.