Abstract
Orientation: The environmental health graduates are required to complete community service before they could be registered as independent practitioners by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Community service programme serves as the mechanism to recruit healthcare professionals who will improve the provision of equitable and quality healthcare.Research purpose: The study aimed to explore, identify and describe the factors that had an influence on the effective selection, placement and utilisation of environmental health graduates as well as an evaluation of the effectiveness of community service.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. The study included 24 environmental health practitioners who completed their community service and 10 environmental health practitioners responsible for coordinating community service in the municipal, provincial and national spheres of government in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa during 2013–2016. Purposive sample was drawn from each population. T-test and chi-square test were used to determine the statistical significant differences. The open-ended question responses from the structured questionnaire were qualitatively analysed by an independent coder.Main findings: The findings revealed major problems regarding the effective implementation of community service that included decreasing number of community service posts, inadequate material resources, lack of induction, inconsistent supervision, and a lack of evaluation of the community service.Contribution: The study findings suggest important inequalities that should deserve urgent attention. Study concludes by presenting recommendations for the improvement of the community service in the environmental health.
Highlights
When a population is exposed to environmental hazards, a relationship is established between the levels of exposure and the health outcomes of that particular population
In 2012, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) reported that the placement of environmental health (EH) graduates for community service (CS) has been a serious challenge for the Department of Health (DoH) since 2007, and this challenge has had a negative impact on EH services (EHS) delivery (Cele, Chaka, Mukhola, & Nemakonde, 2012, p. 5)
The HPCSA reported that the placement of EH graduates for CS has been a serious challenge for the DoH since 2007, and this challenge has had a negative impact on the EHS delivery, especially in a country faced with a quadruple burden of disease (Cele et al, 2012)
Summary
When a population is exposed to environmental hazards, a relationship is established between the levels of exposure and the health outcomes of that particular population. Environmental health is a practice that seeks to protect human health by combating physical, chemical, biological and social threats in the environment. It is the most fundamental public health approach, affecting whole populations and providing a foundation for modern living The DoH stated that its objective for initiating CS was to ensure the provision of improved health services for all South African citizens In this process, CS was expected to provide young professionals with opportunities to develop skills and to acquire knowledge, behaviour patterns and critical thinking that should assist them in their professional development Community service should not be perceived as a year of further training; instead, it is a method for recruiting and strengthening the health workforce, in areas where insufficient access to primary healthcare services and systems exists
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