Factors Influencing Provision Of Cancer Treatment In Public Health Facilities In Kenya: The Case Of Kenyatta National Teaching And Referral Hospital In Nairobi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to look at the factors influencing Provision of Cancer treatment to the public health facilities in Kenya, with a focus on Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi. To achieve this the study was guided by the three objectives that include; To investigate how competence of health facility personnel has influenced provision of Cancer treatment in the public health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya; To establish how availability of facilities has influenced its provision in the public health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya and; To investigate how trained medical personnel influence of cancer treatment provision in the public health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of this study consisted of 600 employees of Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 180 employees from Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital to participate in the actual study. The data collected was coded and keyed into the computer for analysis using the (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Science. Appropriate descriptive statistics including percentages, mean and frequency counts were employed. The data was presented using tables. Piloting of questionnaire was done among ten employees of Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital before the actual data collection. These ten employees did not participate in the actual study. The researcher adopted Cronbach’s alpha test to test for reliability. The main instrument for data collection was a semi structured questionnaires containing both open and closed ended questions. The study found that competence of personnel was a key factor influencing provision of cancer treatment with a coefficient of 0.787 which was significant and 95% confidence level. Another key influencing factor to provision of cancer treatment was adequacy of facilities which showed a strong relationship with a coefficient of 0.786 indicating a positive relationship in influencing provision of cancer treatment. The last variable which was looking at doctor to patient ratio, in terms of availability of trained oncologists, showed a positive relationship with Pearson’s r value of 0.913. The study concluded that determining factors that influence provision of cancer treatment is important in controlling the disease. Key recommendations are: The government should target to subsidize cancer treatment through policy change, increased financing for healthcare and health insurance, and prioritize early detection/ screening to ensure cancer cases are detected early for better treatment outcomes. Palliative care for advanced cases should also be an area of priority for the government. The government should invest in and incentivize training of oncology professionals and devolve oncology care to prevent movement of persons from counties to KNH to seek treatment.