Personnel Capacity Research Articles

Effect of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention and Data Management in Health Facilities in Three Study LGAs of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Malaria remains a leading cause of ill health in Africa and Nigeria. From world malaria report, 2018 53 million annual cases in Nigeria (1 in 4 persons), contributing 25% global burden and 53% of cases in West Africa. In Nigeria alone, 81,640 deaths are recorded annually (9 deaths per hour), which accounts for 19% global malaria deaths (1 in 5 global malaria deaths) and 45% malaria deaths in west Africa. The Nigeria Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2014-2020 has as it goal-to reduce malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and bring malaria-related mortality to zero. In North-East Nigeria, malaria transmission is perennial with a marked seasonal peak from July to November each year. Since malaria is highly endemic in the north-east, increasing the burden on health resources and elevating the risk of morbidity and mortality among the affected population, particularly children under five who are one of the vulnerable groups, Seasonal Mass Chemo-Prevention (SMC) during the rainy season to reduce morbidity and mortality in emergency settings was deployed in 2018 and the results were enormous 6.5% reduction in fever cases and confirmed malaria, when compared with previous years in children under five who benefited from SMC as obtained from the study of effect of SMC on malaria morbidity conducted in Adamawa State in 2018. To achieve a better impact on malaria control, a combination of preventive measures (robust surveillance, indoor residual spray, using insecticide-treated nets), effective case management and improved capacity of personnel is recommended.

Child-centred, cross-sectoral mental health and psychosocial support interventions in the Rohingya response: a field report by Save the Children

Rohingya refugee children make up 55% of the refugee population living in camp-like settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh (Rohingya Humanitarian Joint Response Plan, 2019). The ongoing humanitarian and protection crisis are a result of the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya during and after a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military after attacks on border police posts in August 2017. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission has since concluded that the widespread and systematic attacks amount to crimes against humanity and genocide perpetrated against the Rohingya (United Nations, 2018). With the aim to highlight the impact of the humanitarian situation on Rohingya children’s wellbeing, this field report presents insights on child-centred, cross-sectoral mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in the Rohingya response. Save the Children’s (SC) MHPSS programming framework is discussed, as it reflects the global consensus to push for an integrated approach to MHPSS service provision. Approaches within the child protection, health, nutrition and education sectors are outlined. This report then presents several lessons learned, delving into resources needed and challenges encountered in implementing cross-sectoral MHPSS programming. Gaps in resourcing, technical capacity of personnel and adaptation of tools used in programming figure prominently. This report proposes some recommendations including linking the gains made in the Rohingya response with sustainable prospects such as supporting the Government of Bangladesh in integrating MHPSS into primary health care service delivery in keeping with the recently passed National Mental Health Act of 2018.

Exploring Critical Success Factors for Green Housing Projects: An Empirical Survey of Urban Areas in China

The trend of China’s construction industry has gradually shifted from traditional high‐consumption to efficient green development mode to achieve the new goals of energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable development. The successful development of green housing (GH) has become a major strategic choice. Given the smooth implementation and delivery of GH projects, this study aimed to assess the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) on GH development by identifying controllable CSFs. Firstly, 20 controllable CSFs were identified through literature review. Secondly, the data collected by the questionnaire were used for principal component analysis (PCA). The factor analysis showed that the CSFs can be summarised into five important principal components, namely, (1) project management factors, (2) personnel ability factors, (3) teamwork‐oriented factors, (4) human resource factors, and (5) financial and constraint factors. Finally, multiple regression analysis was used to assess the importance of CSFs. Results showed that project management factors, personnel capacity factors, and financial and constraint factors exerted positive impact on the successful development of the projects, with project management factors having the greatest impact. This work provides not only useful information and practical guidance for enterprises in GH development practice but also certain reference value for building a sustainable development society in China.

У ИСТОКОВ ГРОДНЕНСКОЙ НАУЧНОЙ БИОХИМИЧЕСКОЙ ШКОЛЫ

The paper presents the history of establishing the problem-oriented vitaminologic laboratory on studying the metabolic changes in vitamin B1 deficiency and excess and its relationships with other vitamins at the Department of Biochemistry of Grodno State Medical Institute (GSMI). On the basis of the laboratory following suggestion of Professor Yu.M. Ostrovsky and the decision of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, in 1970 the Department of Metabolism Regulation of the BSSR Academy of Sciences (Institute of Biochemistry since 1985) was established.The important contribution of the GSMI students’ scientific society in formation of the personnel capacity of the first academic establishment in Grodno as well as the fruitful cooperation of GSMI (University) with the academic establishment in creation of the representative scientific school is emphasized.

Federal Policy on Improving Outcomes for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Past, Present, and Future

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) consistently lag behind their peers academically and behaviorally, are likely to be excluded from school, drop out more frequently, and face higher incarceration rates and a host of other negative outcomes as adults. Federal policy has played a key role in (a) ensuring that students with disabilities are included in schools, (b) requiring schools to meet the unique needs of learners, and (c) providing funding to support the development and implementation of evidence-based practices. Our purpose in this article is to examine the progress and challenges related to the development of federal policy supports for students with EBD, and to offer recommendations to help guide the future development of policy. Specifically, we (a) recognize the important developments of the last 30 years in policy protections and funding for students with EBD, (b) identify current challenges and emerging opportunities in several areas related to the identification and support of students with EBD, and (c) offer policy recommendations related to strengthening the use of the functional assessment and personnel capacity development.

Funding sources and costs to deliver cardiac rehabilitation around the globe: Drivers and barriers

BackgroundCardiac rehabilitation (CR) reach is minimal globally, primarily due to financial factors. This study characterized CR funding sources, cost to patients to participate, cost to programs to serve patients, and the drivers of these costs. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, an online survey was administered to CR programs globally. Cardiac associations and local champions facilitated program identification. Costs in each country were reported using purchasing power parity (PPP). Results were compared by World Bank country income classification using generalized linear mixed models. Results111/203 (54.68%) countries in the world offer CR, of which data were collected in 93 (83.78% country response rate; N = 1082 surveys, 32.0% program response rate). CR was most-often publicly funded (more in high-income countries [HICs]; p < .001), but in 60.20% of countries patients paid some or all of the cost. Funding source impacted capacity (p = .004), number of patients per exercise session (p < .001), personnel (p = .037), and functional capacity testing (p = .039). The median cost to serve 1 patient was $945.91PPP globally. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), exercise equipment and stress testing were perceived as the most expensive delivery elements, with front-line personnel costs perceived as costlier in HICs (p = .003). Modifiable factors associated with higher costs included CR team composition (p = .001), stress testing (p = .002) and telemetry monitoring in HICs (p = .01), and not offering alternative models in LMICs (p = .02). ConclusionsToo many patients are paying out-of-pocket for CR, and more public funding is needed. Lower-cost delivery approaches are imperative, and include walk tests, task-shifting, and intensity monitoring via perceived exertion.

Coming Full Circle: How Health Worker Motivation and Performance in Results-Based Financing Arrangements Hinges on Strong and Adaptive Health Systems.

Background: This paper presents findings from a study which sought to understand why health workers working under the results-based financing (RBF) arrangements in Zimbabwe reported being satisfied with the improvements in working conditions and compensation, but paradoxically reported lower motivation levels compared to those not working under RBF arrangements. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted amongst health workers and managers working in health facilities that were implementing the RBF arrangements and those that were not. Through purposeful sampling, 4 facilities in RBF implementing districts that reported poor motivation and satisfaction, were included as study sites. Four facilities located in non-RBF districts which reported high motivation and satisfaction were also included. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using the framework approach. Results: Results based financing arrangements introduce a wide range of new institutional arrangements, roles, tasks, and ways of doing things, for facility staff, facility managers and, district and provincial health management teams. Findings reveal that insufficient preparedness of people and processes for this change, constrained managers and workers performance. Results based financing arrangements introduce explicit and tacit changes, including but not limited to, incentive logics, in the system. Findings show that unless systematic efforts are made to enable the absorption of these changes in the system: eg, through reconfiguring the decision space available at various levels, through clarification of accountability relationships, through building personnel and process capacities, before instituting changes, the full potential of the RBF arrangements cannot be realised. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the importance of analysing existing institutional, management and governance arrangements and capabilities and taking these into account when designing and implementing RBF interventions. Introducing RBF arrangements cannot alone overcome chronic systemic weaknesses. For a system wide change, as RBF arguably is, to be effected, explicit organisational change management processes need to be put in place, across the system. Carefully designed processes, which take into account the interest and willingness of various actors to change, and which are cognizant of and constructively engage with potential bottlenecks and points of resistance, should accompany any health system change initiative.

Improving Nutritional Management of Cancer Patients in Tanzania

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and was reported to cause 8.8 million deaths in 2015. It was long predicted that about 70% of the new cancer cases will be in low-income countries (LIC). In Tanzania, like in many LICs, the need for improved cancer care is critical because cancer rates are rising dramatically. Most cancers are detected late and hence high mortality and poor palliative care for patients. Tanzania lacks trained clinical nutritionists and dieticians to manage different conditions including cancer. Aim: The aim of this project is to build the capacity of nutritionists and other health personnel to provide nutrition care to cancer patients in hospitals. Methods: One nutritionist from Tanzania will be attached to the Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya for one month to obtain practical experience on the nutritional management of cancer patients. The acquired knowledge will be disseminated among health care professionals in Tanzania, specifically, nutritionist and nurses in selected health care facilities. About six nutrition officers and six nurses who work in Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Bugando Hospital, KCMC hospital and Muhimbili National Hospital will be trained by the incumbent on nutrition care for cancer patients once the fellowship visit has been completed. In addition, a study to identify differences in nutritional care for cancer patients between Tanzania and Kenya will be conducted. Cancer patients visiting hospitals in Tanzania and Kenya will be asked to complete a questionnaire that will assess their nutritional care in detail. Responses from cancer patients from each country will be compared to identify differences. Results: Expected results from this project includes, the transfer of knowledge in nutritional management of cancer patients between Tanzania and Kenya, and the subsequent dissemination of this knowledge to other nutrition specialists based in the home country, Tanzania. Further results will include data obtained from a survey that will be performed on cancer patients from both countries regarding their nutritional care. This study is also expected to open up collaborative research opportunities between the universities and health facilities on best practices for nutrition care and support for cancer patients. Conclusion: This study will not only improve palliative care among cancer patients but will also create more awareness on preventive measures against cancers with emphasis on dietary habits.

Establishing Cancer Information Service in Ghana

Background: African Cancer Organization (ACO) seeks to establish a Cancer Information Service (CIS) Centre in Accra, Ghana to offer information about cancer prevention to the general public and businesses. The whole idea is to promote awareness of cancer and early detection through culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate cancer information and education programs. The project will navigate people to appropriate facilities for screening, further diagnosis, management and support. This we believe will help prevent people from getting exposed to avoidable cancer risk factors and also help downstage cancers by early-detecting the disease at stages where cure is often possible, which will ultimately help avert the currently prevailing high incidence of cancers in Ghana. Aim: The goal of the project is to ensure that everyone living in Ghana who is eligible has access easy to free cancer information service. The project will establish the needed infrastructure and also build capacity of personnel required to provide cancer information service to the general public and businesses. Methodology: Trained cancer information specialists will provide a one-on-one interaction by telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, social media, in-person visit or on-site business visit. The service will be free and confidential. The project involves setting up an office, distribution of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to educate businesses and the general public about cancer, its prevention, risk factors associated with the disease, sign and symptoms of cancer, cancer diagnosis, treated, management and support systems available. ACO CIS, tailored to the socioeconomic and cultural context, is to ensure that cancer information is available to everyone who is eligible. Conclusion: There is solid evidence that making cancer information available and diagnosing it at an early stage will reduce deaths from cancer, and the success of interventions intended to detect cancer at an early stage greatly depends on cancer education and awareness and sensitivity to the needs, beliefs and unique circumstance of the target population. Although much remains to be learned about cancer, enough is now known about the causes of cancer and means of control for suitable intervention to have a significant impact. Most Africans cannot currently access curative therapies, state-of-the-art surgery or expensive cancer drugs that are the mainstay of cancer care in developed nations. At the same time between 30% and 50% of cancers are preventable, and a third of all cancers could be cured if detected early. Therefore, scaling up prevention and early diagnosis will be the most cost-effective ways of dealing with cancer. ACO is by this looking for partners with similar mandate to collaborate to establish and sustain the CIS.

Training of High Qualifications in the Accounting, Statistics Direction in Accordance with Professional Standards

[full article and abstract in English]&#x0D; The human potential of science is the basis for the formation of the scientific elite, which has declined significantly in recent decades in Russia. The process of forming the human resources potential of a higher school science must begin with the qualitative organization of research activities of students. Then it is necessary to conduct training of scientific personnel in postgraduate study. At the final stage after graduation from the graduate school, it is necessary to carry out measures to secure the trained scientific personnel in higher education with the replacement of a certain post.&#x0D; The human resources potential of science should be considered as an integral characteristic of the available capabilities of each employee. It is important not only to properly assess this potential, but be able to form it. The training of highly qualified personnel is an important strategic stage in the formation of the human potential of science and increasing the competitiveness of the university, taking into account the presence of such negative factors as the aging of scientific personnel, the transfer of scientific and teaching staff to other spheres of the economy, etc. The competitiveness of a higher educational institution largely depends on postgraduate education, which significantly affects the rating indicators of the university.&#x0D; Objective of this research is carrying out a complex author’s research of the current state of training of the top skills in the Accounting, Statistics direction taking into account application of professional standards and also definition of positive and negative sides in the course of their interface. The research is conducted by means of the system analysis. The retrospective analysis of development of system of the higher education in Russia is also applied. The drawn conclusions confirm need of improvement of the existing system of the higher education in a number of the directions. It is necessary to understand that the personnel potential of science is the multidimensional category more difficult according to the contents, than the personnel capacity of the organization.

FISCAL EFFICIENCY OF ADMINISTRATION OF DUTIES UKRAINE

In the current conditions of development of European integration processes and strengthening of role of international economic relations, a significant role is played by customs policy and its effective implementation in the context of administering duties. The fiscal and regulatory component of customs duties plays an important role in shaping the financial resources of the state and enhancing the customs security of Ukraine. The theoretical and organizational principles for administering duties have been outlined in the article. Fiscal analysis of the formation of budgetary resources at the expense of import and export duties has been carried out. The article states that import duty is a common tool for regulation of foreign economic activity, along with this it increases the price of goods and reduces its competitiveness.The forecasting of budget revenues from the duty for the near future has been performed. The coefficient of collection of import and export duties has been calculated and its dynamics has been highlighted.It has been found that customs payments are characterized by a regularity of revenues, as the population often needs the consumption of goods and services.The monitoring of the taxation of foreign economic activity in Ukraine made it possible to find out that the fiscal function of custom duty appears to be insignificant in relation to other tax payments, but the nature of customs administration is manifested in its regulatory influence. It should be noted that the policy in the field of customs taxation of consumption should be flexible and take into account the peculiarities of socio-economic development and the state of the consumer market in Ukraine.On the basis of identification of positive and negative features of the customs tax, measures to increase the efficiency of administration of customs duties to the budget have been formulated, among which, the main attention should be paid to simplifying customs clearance procedures, counteracting contraband and corruption facts, enhancing professional skills of the personnel capacities customs units of SFSof Ukraine and automating customs administration and regulation procedures.

Analysis on Structural Equation Models for Public Administration Researches

The development in public administration is very important in the present era. Thailand in the transitional era has tried to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector especially in the issues of public services and good bureaucratic system covering the quality of government officials, independence level from political pressure including the quality of policy formulation and the policy implementation as well as the credibility of government organizations to follow the policies set forth by the country in accordance with the plan of Thai government's development strategy as the continual result from the fiscal year of 2012 onwards. In addition, as there is the evaluation system of the new government with the emphasis on the integrated results in the effectiveness dimension or the Government Evaluating System altogether, the 5 concepts of quality management in the public sector then cover the quality organizations which are efficient, effective, and increase the competitiveness of the country more. In elevating personnel capacity and efficiency of public administration to have quality standards equaling to international and to strengthen the personnel in the government, the management focuses on making the organization achieve high performance in order to make the personnel available to learn, innovate, change and adapt to situations which are challenged and various properly. There is the need to accelerateencouraging the government agencies to conduct the study and research to apply the research results. The departmental level agencies can improve the quality of management to be effective and strengthen the competitiveness of the country. Based on the importance of the research as mentioned above, it stimulates relevant agencies to find the ways and means to be used in the administration and management of government affairs. Therefore, researches are important. The public agencies conduct the researches and studies to apply the results to the planning and implementation in their agencies. The author will discuss this in the research methodology which can be applied to researches in public administration for the maximum benefits. The results will be beneficial to the overall development of the country leading to peaceful society in consistent with the country development. The 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan enacted from 2016 onwards will continually benefit the beneficiaries; people in the country. This article discusses the quantitative research explaining the writing and how to use advanced statistics in finding the level of structural equation modeling. They are known as SEM. Those who are interested in creating the structural equation model have to realize the importance and details of structural equation modeling in order to create the researches which are complete and can be used further.

Strengthening intrapartum and immediate newborn care to reduce morbidity and mortality of preterm infants born in health facilities in Migori County, Kenya and Busoga Region, Uganda: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPreterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) and its complications are the leading contributors to neonatal and under-5 mortality. The majority of neonatal deaths in Kenya and Uganda occur during the intrapartum and immediate postnatal period. This paper describes our study protocol for implementing and evaluating a package of facility-based interventions to improve care during this critical window.Methods/designThis is a pair-matched, cluster randomized controlled trial across 20 facilities in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya. The intervention facilities receive four components: (1) strengthening of routine data collection and data use activities; (2) implementation of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist modified for preterm birth; (3) PRONTO simulation training and mentoring to strengthen intrapartum and immediate newborn care; and (4) support of quality improvement teams. The control facilities receive both data strengthening and introduction of the modified checklist. The primary outcome for this study is 28-day mortality rate among preterm infants. The denominator will include all live births and fresh stillbirths weighing greater than 1000 g and less than 2500 g; all live births and fresh stillbirths weighing between 2501 and 3000 g with a documented gestational age less than 37 weeks.DiscussionThe results of this study will inform interventions to improve personnel and facility capacity to respond to preterm labor and delivery, as well as care for the preterm infant.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03112018. Registered on 13 April 2017.

Support of medication adherence by community pharmacists in Czech and Slovak Republics: a questionnaire survey study

Abstract Introduction: Intervention of pharmacists in medication adherence can meaningfully contribute to achieving therapeutic outcomes. Exploring the real-life readiness and opportunities of pharmacists may result in the adoption of measures, which could be seen through improvement of patients’ adherence to pharmacotherapy. Aim: The aim of the paper was to make a survey on community pharmacists’ potential in medication adherence support in its connectivity to technical and personnel factors, which underline the capacities of pharmacies in dealing with medication adherence. Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted from October to December 2014 and involved 158 pharmacists from 117 Czech (CZ) and 41 Slovak (SK) community pharmacies. The structured questionnaire surveyed both technical and personnel factors, including provision of consultancy services related to medication adherence. Non-adherence risk reduction was evaluated by adopting Morisky Scale modified from the pharmacist’s perspective. Questionnaires outcomes were summarised in contingency tables and analyzed for associations between respective categorical variables using χ2 or exact tests and association coefficients. All results are reported as significant at P≤0.05. Results: The average score of adherence support (CZ/SK 1.95/1.93) was significantly higher as compared to that of persistence or concordance (P&lt;0.001). Reduction of non-adherence risk reached the score of a medium degree (P=0.73, average 2.29 in CZ and 2.22 in SK). These findings were significantly associated with personnel capacities (provision of consultancy, preference for the use of recommended procedures in CZ (P&lt;0.001), number of years of practice in SK (P=0.029)), while significant association with technical equipment (consultancy room) in the SK (P=0.037). Conclusion: The pharmaceutical care is developing towards the improvement of medication adherence in both countries - assuming a medium degree of adherence support. Further progress may be observed in strengthening the pharmacists’ personnel capacities, and accelerated mainly using information technologies, i.e. through technical capacities.

Providing the Russian Agro-Industrial Complex With Highly Qualified Personnel in the Context of the Global Transition to a «Green Economy»

The transition to new business conditions in the agro-industrial sector puts forward new requirements for staffing. High qualification of workers in agribusiness is one of the main conditions for creating a platform for the transition from industrialization to environmentally responsible economic growth. However, few existing training and retraining programs for the agro-industrial sector allow to provide the labour market by specialists whose professional competencies include an environmentally responsible context. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the opportunities and prospects for reforming educational programs to train highly qualified specialists for the Russian agro-industrial complex. This article is based on a content analysis of research, economic and statistical data that reliably characterize trends and tendencies in the development of the Russian agro-industry at the present time. One of the most rational approaches to provide the Russian agro-industrial sector with highly qualified human resources, which possess competences in environmentally responsible organization of activities can be based on the Triple Helix Model. The information presented in the article has allowed to make the following main conclusions. Firstly, the environmentally responsible development of the economy as a whole, as well as of its separate sectors, spheres, as well as of the social sector, is the basic condition for the physical survival of modern civilization. Secondly, in the Russian system of training personnel for the agro-industrial sector, the concept of environmentally responsible and innovative-oriented education has not been systematically implemented. Therefore, in practice, the agrarian regions of Russia urgently need skilled personnel with the appropriate level of professional competence in resource-efficient nature management. These conclusions can be used as at the macroeconomic level for the elaboration of development programs of the Russian agro-industry, and at the microeconomic level for the improvement of ways and approaches to corporate training. Within this article, we did not specify the modern techniques of the personnel training and the development of personnel capacity in agro-industriy. This aspect will become a subject-mater for our further research.

Institutional Design of the Aca Health Insurance Exchanges: Factors Affecting Policy Implementation in State Administration

In state implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance exchanges, sixteen states decided to create and administer their own exchanges, determining the institutional location of the exchanges. This institutional design of implementing organizations affects aspects of state policy implementation of the health exchanges, reflecting the intentions of state officials to exert control over the administration of operations and other decisions such as funding sources. This research examines whether state decisions regarding agency assignment of the ACA health exchanges were associated with political, economic, and historical-cultural explanations. This study provides evidence that, in the decision of the location of health insurance exchanges, state officials were influenced by the factors of state budget shortfalls and state histories of creating independent agencies, but not by divided government, compound divided government and state personnel capacity.

Enabling appropriate personnel skill-mix for progressive realization of equitable access to assistive technology

Background and Methods: This paper reviews the current capacity of personnel in enabling access to assistive technology (AT) as well as the systems and processes within which they work, and was reviewed, discussed, and refined during and following the Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit.Findings: Key concepts addressed include a person-centred team approach; sustainability indicators to monitor, measure, and respond to needs for service design and delivery; education, research, and training for competent practice, using the six rehab-workforce challenges framework; and credentialing frameworks. We propose development of a competence framework and associated education and training programs, and development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel.Conclusions: There is a resolve to address the challenges faced by People globally to access assistive technology. Context specific needs assessment is required to understand the AT Personnel landscape, to shape and strengthen credentialing frameworks through competencies and certification, acknowledging both general and specific skill mix requirements.Implications for RehabilitationPersonnel in assistive technology (AT) provision should be trained using a person-centred team approach, which emphasizes appropriate skill-mix to address multiple needs within the community.Sustainability indicators should be used which allow personnel to monitor, measure and respond to needs for service design and delivery.A competence framework with associated education and training program, coupled with the development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel needs, will promote quality in AT personnel training globally.

Developing a Personnel Capacity Indicator for a high turnover Cartographic Production Sector

Abstract. This paper describes a framework for development of an indicator for human re-sources capacity management in a military organization responsible for nautical chart production. Graphic chart for the results of the model COPPE-COSENZA (Cosenza et al. 2015) is used to properly present the personnel capacity within a high people turnover environment. The specific skills for the nautical charts production allied to the turnover rate require continuous and adequate personnel in-corporation and a capacity building through education and on-the-job training. The adopted approach for the study establishes quantitative values to fulfill quality requirements, and also presents graphically a profile for the human resources on a specific job to facilitate diagnosis and corrective actions.

SOCIAL NETWORK SITES UTILIZED IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

The purposes of this research are to: i) Measure the degree of utilization of SocialNetworks (SNS) (Facebook, Twitter, Instgram, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Flicker,Tumblr, Hi5, Whatsapp, Snapchat, and Youtube) among agricultural extensionpersonnel in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), ii) Identify the role of SNSs inprovision of extension services from the viewpoint of respondents, and iii)Recommend interventions needed to enhance the utilization of SNSs in provisionof extension services. An online survey with 55 agricultural extension personnelrepresent 22% of the total number of extension personnel in KSA (250 personnel)was conducted in April-May 2016, frequencies and percentages were used for datapresentation. Sample was young (82% are less than 45 years old) and rather highlyeducated (75% were have university degree or postgraduate studies). Results showthat the majority of respondents (60%) have a medium level of SNS utilization,while the remaining 40% were divided equally between low and high levels ofutility. More than two-fifths (46%) declared that they highly prefer using SNS incontacting farmers, and the same percentage indicated that SNS is highly facilitatetheir work circumstances. Most of respondents (85%), stated that SNSs havepositive impact in facilitation of extension personnel communication capacities,most of them (96%) indicated the high and medium positive impact of SNSs in theextension employee’s acquiring knowledge. Also, most of respondents (91%)stated that SNSs were helped them in achieving their work tasks with medium andhighly base. Study recommends and concludes some interventions for better SNSbasedextension services in KSA.

Evaluation of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services sein Guinea-Conakry and Togo.

The quality of mother and child healthcare remains a challenge for low and middle income countries. Quality interventions that allow a reduction of maternal and infantile mortality require the services of qualified personnel. The objective of this study is to present the results of analysis of the status of human healthcare resources and the quality of healthcare (technical, interpersonal, organisational) they provide to mothers and neonates in Guinea and Togo. Data were derived from Guinea and Togo case studies with embedded levels of analysis. Participants were: maternal and neonatal health care resources (MNCHR), health care beneficiaries, community members. Data collection methods comprised: observations of MNHCR clinical practice; interviews (beneficiaries, health care establishment and educational institution personnel); and focus groups (men, women, community leaders, students). Analysis consisted of qualitative analysis of the content of interviews and focus groups and quantitative analysis of quality scores. The observations revealed a low level of health care quality for all criteria. Non-technical quality varied according to: the health establishment and level of experience, the MNHCR qualifications, specialisation and basic training. Geographic and financial accessibility, maternal and neonatal health care personnel capacities, continuity and extent of their services are unsatisfactory. Recommendations target the establishment of public policies to reinforce MNHCR capacities, standard to define their practice, and organisation and work environment. Conclusions could be used as benchmarks for other countries from Sub-Saharan Africa.