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Healthcare context and nursing workforce in a main city of A ngola
Author(s) -
Costa Mendes I.A.,
MarchiAlves L.M.,
Mazzo A.,
Nogueira M.S.,
Trevizan M.A.,
Godoy S.,
Bistafa Pereira M.J.,
Leonardo de Oliveira Gaioli C.C.,
Arena Ventura C.A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international nursing review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1466-7657
pISSN - 0020-8132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2012.01039.x
Subject(s) - workforce , nursing , human resources , health care , health human resources , accountability , context (archaeology) , medicine , acknowledgement , business , public relations , political science , geography , archaeology , law , computer security , computer science
Background A ngola is one of the largest A frican countries with continuing levels of insecurity, considerable weakness in terms of respect for human rights, destroyed infrastructure and low transparency and social accountability levels. The health system displays gaps and nursing represents the main contingent among human resources in health. Aim This research aims to understand the healthcare context in A ngola from the perspective of B razilian nurses who were involved in helping their A ngolan colleagues. This general view of health services is followed by a description of nursing workforce particularities at a tertiary health service in the province of L uanda. Methods Data were extracted from the database of the G lobal N etwork of W orld H ealth O rganization C ollaborating C entres for N ursing and M idwifery D evelopment, constructed based on technical visits to A ngola in 2009. Information related to health service characteristics was used, focusing on nursing human resource activities at two tertiary, one secondary and one primary health institutions located in the province of L uanda. The study data were analysed through descriptive statistics. Findings Among the problems the nursing workforce faces, the lack of human, material and financial resources stands out, as well as insufficient professional qualification, excessive work journeys, low remunerations, non‐valuation of professionals, leading to unsatisfactory work environments and discouraged human resources. Conclusions Nursing in A ngola is conquering its professional space. Therefore, regulatory policies are fundamental, defining the rights and obligations of all categories involved, with a view to determining nurses' function in the health team, including respect for and acknowledgement of their role in the community.