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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Monitoring the referral system through benchmarking in rural Niger: An evaluation of the functional relation between health centres and the district hospital
BMC Health Services Research, Volume 6, Article 51, Year 2006
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Description
Background: The main objective of this study is to establish a benchmark for referral rates in rural Niger so as to allow interpretation of routine referral data to assess the performance of the referral system in Niger. Methods: Strict and controlled application of existing clinical decision trees in a sample of rural health centres allowed the estimation of the corresponding need for and characteristics of curative referrals in rural Niger. Compliance of referral was monitored as well. Need was matched against actual referral in 11 rural districts. The referral patterns were registered so as to get an idea on the types of pathology referred. Results: The referral rate benchmark was set at 2.5% of patients consulting at the health centre for curative reasons. Niger's rural districts have a referral rate of less than half this benchmark. Acceptability of referrals is low for the population and is adding to the deficient referral system in Niger. Mortality because of under-referral is highest among young children. Conclusion: Referral patterns show that the present programme approach to deliver health care leaves a large amount of unmet need for which only comprehensive first and second line health services can provide a proper answer. On the other hand, the benchmark suggests that well functioning health centres can take care of the vast majority of problems patients present with. © 2006Bossyns et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Bossyns, Paul B.M.
Belgium, Brussels
Belgian Technical Cooperation
Abache, Ranaou
Niger
Ministry of Health
Abdoulaye, Mahaman Sani
Niger
Ministry of Health
Miyé, Hamidou
Niger
Ministry of Health
Depoorter, Anne Marie E.
Belgium, Brussels
Free Universities of Brussels
van Lerberghe, Wim
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Statistics
Citations: 59
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-6963-6-51
ISSN:
14726963
e-ISSN:
14726963
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Niger