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Programmatic determinants of successful referral to health and social services for orphans and vulnerable children: A longitudinal study in Tanzania

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  • Shraddha Bajaria
  • Ramadhani Abdul
  • Amon Exavery
  • Epifania Minja
  • John Charles
  • Sally Mtenga
  • Elizabeth Jere
  • Eveline Geubbels

Abstract

Background: Trained community workers (CWs) successfully deliver health and social services, especially due to greater community acceptance. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caregivers (CG) often need support from several sectors. We identified CW, program and referral characteristics that were associated with success of referrals provided to OVC and their CG in Tanzania in a cross-sectoral bi-directional referral system. Methods: Data for this secondary analysis come from the first two years (2017–2018) of the USAID funded Kizazi Kipya project. Referral success was defined as feedback and service received within 90 days post-referral provision. We analyzed factors that are associated with the referral success of HIV related, education, nutrition, parenting, household economic strengthening, and child protection services among OVC and CG, using generalized estimating equations. Results: During the study period, 19,502 CWs in 68 councils provided 146,996 referrals to 132,640 beneficiaries. OVC had much lower referral success for HIV related services (48.1%) than CG (81.2%). Adjusted for other covariates, CW age (26–49 versus 18–25 years, for OVC aOR = 0.83, 95%CI (0.78, 0.87) and CW gender (males versus females, for OVC aOR = 1.12, 95%CI (1.08, 1.16); CG aOR = 0.84, 95%CI (0.78, 0.90)) were associated with referral success. CWs who had worked > 1 year in the project (aOR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.46, 1.58) and those with previous work experience as CW (aOR = 1.57, 95%CI (1.42, 1.74) more successfully referred OVC. Referrals provided to OVC for all other services were more successful compared to HIV referrals, with aORs ranging from 2.99 to 7.22. Longer project duration in the district council was associated with increased referral success for OVC (aOR = 1.16 per month 95%CI 1.15,1.17), but decreased for CG (aOR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.94, 0.97). Referral success was higher for OVC and CGs with multiple (versus single) referrals provided within the past 30 days (aOR = 1.28 95%CI 1.21, 1.36) and (aOR = 1.17, 95%CI (1.06, 1.30)) respectively. Conclusion: CW characteristics, referral type and project maturity had different and often contrasting associations with referral success for OVC versus for CG. These findings could help policymakers decide on the recruitment and allocation of CWs in community based multi-sectoral intervention programs to improve referral successes especially for OVC.

Suggested Citation

  • Shraddha Bajaria & Ramadhani Abdul & Amon Exavery & Epifania Minja & John Charles & Sally Mtenga & Elizabeth Jere & Eveline Geubbels, 2020. "Programmatic determinants of successful referral to health and social services for orphans and vulnerable children: A longitudinal study in Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0239163
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smith Fawzi, Mary C. & Eustache, Eddy & Oswald, Catherine & Louis, Ermaze & Surkan, Pamela J. & Scanlan, Fiona & Hook, Sarah & Mancuso, Anna & Mukherjee, Joia S., 2012. "Psychosocial support intervention for HIV-affected families in Haiti: Implications for programs and policies for orphans and vulnerable children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(10), pages 1494-1503.
    2. Linsk, Nathan & Mabeyo, Zena & Omari, Leah & Petras, Donna & Lubin, Bonnie & Abate, Abebe Assefa & Steinitz, Lucy & Kaijage, Theresa & Mason, Sally, 2010. "Para-social work to address most vulnerable children in sub-Sahara Africa: A case example in Tanzania," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 990-997, July.
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