Abstract

Background: Skilled health workers are unable to deliver services effectively without appropriate physical capitals.

Objective: The current study is pursued with the objectives (1) to study the competence level of medical officers in providing the treatment and care of two specific noncommunicable diseases and emergency conditions. (2) To score primary health centers (PHCs) on the basis of vulnerability by using Vulnerability Index calculator. (3) To know about the availability of the medicines to treat diseases in question, important instruments, and vehicle.

Materials and Methods: The current study is a cross-sectional study involving PHC medical officers (MBBS). There are total 47 PHCs in Anand district in Gujarat. It was decided to include 50% PHCs from each block out of total 47 PHCs. The PHCs were selected by systematic random sampling with sampling interval of 2 and ni calculated for each block separate. Σni is 25.

Results: We found that the median knowledge scores for hypertension and diabetes among PHC medical officers were 4.00 and 4.50 out of 10. Mean Vulnerability Index was 7.36, which is overall coming in moderate vulnerability. A total of 40% medical officers were able to identify correctly at least 2 symptoms of hypertension. A total of 88% medical officers were able to handle cases of snake bite and bee stings. In all the PHCs, emergency lifesaving drugs were available.

Conclusions: There should be proper training of medical officers in the treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Logistics that are not available should be made available.

Key words: Anand, knowledge, universal health coverage, PHC, medical officer