Barriers and facilitators of incorporating Ubuntu principles in the integrated management of childhood illness

Abstract

Background: Success in incorporating Ubuntu principles in the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) requires collaboration between health professionals and families and assistance from their communities. Despite this, the literature reviewed is silent about exploring caregivers’ perspectives regarding the barriers and facilitators of incorporating Ubuntu principles in managing childhood illness.

Aim: The study explored and described the barriers and facilitators of incorporating Ubuntu principles in managing childhood illness.

Setting: The study was conducted in selected primary healthcare settings, community health centres and clinics in the Mafikeng sub-district of the North West province.

Methods: The study was conducted using exploratory descriptive contextual, qualitative design. The 36 participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: The study revealed three themes: the negative attitude of professional nurses, communication barriers and facilitators enhancing the incorporation of Ubuntu into IMCI. The findings indicated that health education of caregivers is crucial, the right allocation of nurses will facilitate the inclusion of Ubuntu into IMCI and the unannounced visit of government authorities will also facilitate the incorporation.

Conclusion: The study illustrated that caregivers face several barriers hindering the incorporation of Ubuntu in IMCI. These findings support the need for healthcare providers to prioritise the incorporation of Ubuntu principles for better management of childhood illness for children under the age of five.

Contribution: This is the first study to report the barriers and facilitators of incorporating Ubuntu principles into IMCI.