Factors Influencing Implementation of Supply Chain Management for Maternal Health Programmes Among Public Hospitals in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals practices in some international organizations is still a key challenge regardless of the rising attention being paid by all modern enterprises to 9 supply chain management practices globally. Although many health care organizations have recognized the importance of adopting supply chain management practices, the application of techniques, methods and best practices originally developed in an industrial setting clearly is often problematic. Organizations even with most efficient internal processes do not facilitate supply chain management across borders. Collaboration is minimized and other players resort to traditional methods of operations that may not be cost effective. The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing the implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals in Meru County, Kenya. The study sought to achieve the following objectives; to evaluate the extent to which financial management, training, transparency and accountability and auditing influence implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals in Meru County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design and target population of 293 comprising of Medical Officers, Clinical Officers, Nurses, Trained Community Health Workers, County Health Management Team and County Delivery Unit officers in Meru County. Stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 166 respondents. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires while secondary data was obtained using data collection sheet. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 25.0 which is the most recent version. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation were estimated for all the quantitative variables and information was presented by using tables. The qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analysed using conceptual content analysis and presented in prose. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. F-statistic was also computed at 95% confidence level in order to test whether there was any significant relationship between supply chain management process and the various factors influencing it. The findings show that financial management had a strong and positive relationship with the implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals in Meru County. The study found that performance, ethical codes and professionalism were found to influence implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes to a great extent. It was also found out that effective ethics and anti-corruption measures influenced implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes to a very great extent. It was further established that auditing has a significant effect on the implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals in Meru County. It was concluded that financial management had the greatest effect on the implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals in Meru County, followed by transparency and accountability then training while auditing had the least implementation of supply chain management for Maternal Health Programmes among Public Hospitals. It was recommended that organizations that offer Health Services and conduct Health Projects that are funded by donors should strengthen up their monitoring and audit systems on financial management as it helps in keeping up high standards for financial accountability which was the perquisite in raising donor confidence in offering more funds. The findings will benefit general public by enabling them to get value for their money from quality service delivered to them by Health Sector.