Stakeholder Involvement in Project Management Cycle on the Performance of the Free Human Papillomavirus Program in Kenya: a Case of Bungoma County, Kenya.

Abstract

This study sought to determine the influence of stakeholders’ involvement in the project management cycle on the performance of the free HPV vaccine program on the residents of Bungoma County. Kenya has a considerably high number of cancer incidences, and cervical tops the list as the most prevalent among Kenyan women of reproductive age. As a response to this worrying trend, the government of Kenya launched the free Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine program to combat the increasing rates of cervical cancer among women and girls. Although the free HPV vaccine program is on-going, there is a need to assess the influence of stakeholder involvement in the project management cycle, with the exception of the project outcome. Specific areas to be examined include project initiation phase, planning phase, implementation phase, and monitoring and evaluation phase. A descriptive survey research design was adopted because it was established to be the most suitable approach to data collection to answer research questions. The target population included major stakeholders in the free HPV vaccine program rolled out in Bungoma County. These are, Sub County EPI, Sub County MOE, Sub County Public Health Officer, Health Facility Nurse, and the School Health Teacher, composed of 220 individuals. Purposive sampling and census was adopted to select a sample size of 150 respondents. Primary data was collected through the use of a self-administered survey approach of which descriptive analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 21) was used for the data analysis purpose. The study findings demonstrated that stakeholders' involvement in project initiation significantly impacted the performance of the free HPV vaccine program in Bungoma County. The study also found that stakeholders' involvement in project planning phase significantly impacted the performance of the free HPV Vaccine program in Bungoma County. More precisely, stakeholders were engaged in project initiation phase, planning phase and the implementation phase, but were not involved in the various aspects of the evaluation and monitoring phase, especially report writing and feedback provision. Hence, the study recommends that report writing and feedback provision should be adopted to ensure that the project manager has a different perspective of the project thus keeping it on track. This way, the inputs made by stakeholders on time enhance the attainment of specific strategic objectives and goals. Moreover, the study recommends a risk management plan to act as a cushion against uncertainties such as the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted critical aspects of the project. Monitoring and evaluation should be completed despite such interferences to keep all stakeholders informed about the progress of the free HPV vaccine project in Bungoma County.