FACILITATIVE SUPERVISION: IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVISION IN THE UPPER WEST REGION IN GHANA

Abstract

Purpose –– This paper examines how Facilitative Supervision (FS) which focuses on mentoring, joint-problem solving and two-way communication between the supervisor and the supervisee has evolved to play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of access to basic quality health care in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Methods –– It employed semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and observation to generate primary data to achieve its purpose. Thematic and content-of-voices analyses were adopted for the data analysis.

Findings –– The study revealed improvement in maternal and child health care as facilities recorded high attendance for antenatal and child immunization in the study area. It was also discovered that, FS has helped both supervisors and supervisees become more confident and disciplined than before as they equipped themselves with latest and updated knowledge in their areas of work.

Conclusion/Recommendation –– The paper recommends that FS should be adequately resourced and that stakeholders should improve road conditions and networks leading to and from health facilities to ease supervision, and organize trainer-of-trainers capacity building programmes, for adequate number of the supervisors.

Keywords –– Facilitative Supervision, Primary Healthcare, Sustainable Development Goals, Ghana