Budgetary controls and Health Service Delivery in Lira City Northern Uganda.

Abstract

Backgrounds: Health service delivery in Uganda remains a challenge to the government of Uganda. The study established the effect of budgetary controls on Health Service Delivery in Lira City. The study was conducted based on specific objectives that were; to establish the effect of budget planning on health service delivery, to determine the effects of budget implementation on health service delivery and to ascertain the effect of budget monitoring on health service delivery I Lira city. Methods: The research conducted a cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study population consisted of 157members who are believed to be closely concerned with budgeting activities and health service delivery in their respective work stations and jurisdictions. Simple random sampling techniques and purposive sampling were used to select a sample size of 120 participants. This researcher used self-administered questionnaires to collect quantitative and interview guide to collect qualitative data. Descriptive analysis was performed using mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages to summarize the variables. Specifically, the Pearson correlation was used to determine the degree of correlation between the independent variables in this case (budgetary tool) and dependent variable (health service delivery). Results: -This study established the effects of budget planning on health service delivery, determined the effect of budget implementation on health service delivery and ascertained the effect of budget monitoring on health service delivery. Finally, regression analysis was used to establish of the independent variables (budgetary controls) on health service delivery. Based on the regression analysis, Budget Monitoring(beta=0.553. p=0.000) and Budget implementation (beta=0.297, p=0.020) had a statistically significance and positive impact on health service delivery, while budget planning did not have a statistically significant effect on health service delivery. Budget controls accounted for about (0.433) 43.3% improvement in health service Delivery. Conclusions: This study concluded that, Budgetary Controls affected Health Service Delivery in Lira City. Recommendations: This study recommended that a strong budgetary control should be used in health service delivery as government continues to deliver health services as contained in the text. Keywords: Budgetary controls, Health Service Delivery, Lira City, Northern Uganda