The Effect of Real Time Integrated Supportive Supervision Visits on the Performance of Health Workers in Zambia.

Abubakar Sadiq Umar,Pascal Mkanda,Isah Mohammed Bello,Joseph Chukwudi Okeibunor,Masvikeni Brine,Daudi Manyanya,Matapo Belem,Godwin Ubong Akpan,Shibeshi Messeret Eshetu,Masumbu Penelope,Daniel Fussum

doi:10.29245/2578-3009/2021/s2.1109

Abstract

The use of online Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) is aimed to improve the quality of services provided by front line health workers. This work is aimed to document the effects of ISS on the performance of health workers in Zambia using selected key surveillance and immunization process indicators. ISS data on WHO ODK server of all Integrated Supportive Supervisory (ISS) visits that were conducted in Zambia between 1st January 2018 to 30th September 2018 were analysed to determine the Percentage point difference between the first and the most recent ISS visits in order to determine whether an observed gap during first ISS visit had persisted during the most recent ISS visit. Our study demonstrated that ISS has remarkable percentage point increase between the first and the most recent ISS visits on availability of an updated monitoring chart, health workers knowledge of AFP case definition and AFP case files. However, there exist variations in the frequency of ISS visits across the provinces of the country. Future research effort should consider assessing the quality of the ISS data through periodic data validation missions.

Highlights

Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) is a process which encourages the delivery of quality service for optimal outcomes through better communication, team spirit to resolve identified problems, and mentoring to motivate health workers to supervise, monitor and improve their individual and collective performance
The ISS is an integrated electronic checklist used for supervision of routine immunisation and for the conduct of active case search for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and other diseases ear mark for eradication or elimination depending on the country need as well as to provide
It is important to note that our study had not explored the reasons for the few frequency of visits in provinces mentioned above due the fact that such information is not available on the Open Data Kit (ODK) server; it might not be unrelated to lack of accountability, work overload and operational cost as was observed in similar African settings[1,12,18,19]

Summary

Introduction

Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) is a process which encourages the delivery of quality service for optimal outcomes through better communication, team spirit to resolve identified problems, and mentoring to motivate health workers to supervise, monitor and improve their individual and collective performance. It is important to note that other researchers reported that ISS led to no improvement in the knowledge and skill of health workers, demotivation, persistence of observed problems[11,12,13] and poor immunisation[13] and Malaria program outcomes[14]. These assertions must be interpreted in the context of the study design and methods of data collection, and in line with study area specific

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Discussion

Conclusion