Abstract
AIM: To determine factors influencing poor implementation of primary preventive care in primary healthcare facilities of a selected municipality. DESIGN: The study adopted a qualitative approach, an exploratory and descriptive design, to gain in-depth data about the study topic. METHODS: The study was conducted in five primary healthcare facilities in a selected municipality. A non-probability purposive sampling approach was used to select fifteen (15) primary healthcare professional nurses to participate in the study. Data was collected for a period of 1 month using semi-structured in-depth face-to-face interviews. Data analysis was done following Tesch's eight steps to develop themes and subthemes. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability. Ethical clearance certificates were obtained, and ethical standards were observed throughout the study. RESULTS: The study findings indicated that the shortage of material and human resources, financial management-related factors, personnel impacts, attitudes and beliefs of consumers towards services, support systems, and the increased burden of disease are factors influencing poor implementation of primary preventive care in primary healthcare facilities of a selected municipality. The study recommends that an increased budget for preventive care could curb the poor implementation of primary preventive care services in primary healthcare facilities. IMPACT: The study addressed the poor implementation of primary preventive health services in a selected municipality. Factors such as a shortage of material and human resources, financial management-related factors, personnel impacts, attitudes and beliefs of consumers towards services, support systems, and an increased burden of disease were revealed as associated with the poor implementation of primary preventive care in primary healthcare facilities of a selected municipality. Policymakers should collaborate with community stakeholders and healthcare providers to review available health policies and programmes. The revisions of health policies could guide the health facilities to improve the implementation of PPC and realise universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance (NHI) for the provision of quality healthcare services to all citizens and, consequently, accomplishing the health-related sustainable development goal agenda by 2030; the Department of Health should introduce additional techniques for engineering PHC with an emphasis on implementing primary preventive care to improve the implementation of PPC in PHC facilities. REPORTING METHODS: EQUATOR guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.