Suchergebnisse

Abstract Background In India, since the 1990s, there has been a burgeoning of NGOs involved in providing primary health care. This has resulted in a complex NGO-Government interface which is difficult for lone NGOs to navigate. The Uttarakhand Cluster, India, links such small community health programs together to build NGO capacity, increase visibility and better link to the government schemes and the formal healthcare system. This research, undertaken between 1998 and 2011, aims to examine barriers and facilitators to such linking, or clustering, and the effectiveness of this clustering approach. Methods Interviews, indicator surveys and participant observation were used to document the process and explore the enablers, the barriers and the effectiveness of networks improving community health. Results The analysis revealed that when activating, framing, mobilising and synthesizing the Uttarakhand Cluster, key brokers and network players were important in bridging between organisations. The ties (or relationships) that held the cluster together included homophily around common faith, common friendships and geographical location and common mission. Self interest whereby members sought funds, visibility, credibility, increased capacity and access to trainings was also a commonly identified motivating factor for networking. Barriers to network synthesizing included lack of funding, poor communication, limited time and lack of human resources. Risk aversion and mistrust remained significant barriers to overcome for such a network. Conclusions In conclusion, specific enabling factors allowed the clustering approach to be effective at increasing access to resources, creating collaborative opportunities and increasing visibility, credibility and confidence of the cluster members. These findings add to knowledge regarding social network formation and collaboration, and such knowledge will assist in the conceptualisation, formation and success of potential health networks in India and other developing world countries.

List of tables and figuresAbbreviations and acronymsAbout the authorsIntroductionPART I BACKGROUND: THE BASICS1 What is public health? Definitions and applications2 The historical development of public health: Landmarks in the field3 Health in Australia today: Health status, the health-care system and the place of public healthPART II CONCEPTUAL AND ANALYTICAL TOOLKIT: KEY CONCEPTS AND FRAMEWORKS4 Distribution of health and its determinants: Changing concepts and models5 Explaining differences and determinants: Environment, society and behaviour6 Public health interventions: From quarantine to the rise of 'evidence-based practice'7 Health systems and policy: Making sense of the complex mosaicPART III PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE: BUILDING BLOCKS AND THE SYSTEM OF DELIVERY8 Who delivers public health? Contemporary policies and players9 Legislative authority for public health action: How governments and societal expectations intersect10 Public health intelligence: Information and the research base for action11 Human and financial resources: Essential foundations for actionPART IV PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: KEY INTERVENTIONS FROM PAST TO PRESENT12 Surveillance and disease control: From data to intervention13 Health protection: From the physical environment to ecological health14 Preventive services: Linking public health and personal health care15 Health promotion: From lifestyles to societal determinants of health16 Health maintenance and improvement for vulnerable populations: From needs to rightsPART V PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES: EMERGING ISSUES AND RESPONSES17 Public health governance: Politics of participation, decision-making and accountability18 Futures of public health: Where to now for the organised effort?19 A final note on ethical practiceAPPENDICESAppendix A: Australian core public health functionsAppendix B: Millennium Development GoalsAppendix C: Commonwealth Department of Health structure, 1921-2012Appendix D: Commonwealth population health divisions, 1961-2012Appendix E: Approaches and theories for health promotionAppendix F: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986 (extract)Appendix G: Evidence-based public health: Recommendations form Taskforce on Community Preventive ServicesAppendix H: Examples of public health laws in AustraliaAppendix I: Examples of new diseases identified in humans since 1975Appendix J: Core environmental health services provided by Health Departments and environment protection agenciesAppendix K: Vaccine start dates in AustraliaAppendix L: Common food- or water-borne pathogensUseful resourcesSources for definitionsBibliographyIndex