Acceptability and feasibility of inter-related activities to improveagency among African district health managers: A four-countrystudy

Abstract

District health managers (DHMs) lead and manage Ministry of Health programmes and system performance. We report on the acceptability and feasibility of inter-related activities to increase the agency of DHMs in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda using a cross-sectional rapid appraisal with 372 DHMs employing structured questionnaires. We founddifferences and similarities between the countries, in particular, whobecomes a DHM. The opportunity to provide leadership and effect changeand being part of a team were reported as rewarding aspects of DHMs’work. Demotivating factors included limited resources, bureaucracy, staffshortages, lack of support from leadership and inadequate delegation of authority. District managers ranked the acceptability of the inter-related activities similarly despite differences between contexts. Activities highlyranked by DHMs were to employ someone to support primary care staff to compile and analyse district-level data; to undertake study tours to well-functioning districts; and joining an African Regional DHM Association.DHMs rated these activities as feasible to implement. This study confirms that DHMs are in support of a process to promote bottom-up, data-driven,context-specific actions that can promote self-actualisation, recognises the roles DHMs play, provides opportunities for peer learning and can potentially improve quality of care.