PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Syengo, Masila AU - Suchman, Lauren TI - Private Providers’ Experiences Implementing a Package of Interventions to Improve Quality of Care in Kenya: Findings From a Qualitative Evaluation AID - 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00034 DP - 2020 Sep 30 TA - Global Health: Science and Practice PG - 478--487 VI - 8 IP - 3 4099 - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/8/3/478.short 4100 - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/8/3/478.full SO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT2020 Sep 30; 8 AB - Key FindingsEngaging private providers in comprehensive quality improvement activities is achievable.Cost is a prohibiting factor for many private providers who would like to implement quality improvement interventions.Offering a package of quality improvement interventions may help mitigate some cost issues as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach.Key ImplicationsProgram managers should consider tailoring several quality improvement interventions to meet the needs of private providers in small and medium-sized facilities.Researchers should consider conducting further studies on the return on investment quality improvement programs can offer to private providers in LMICs.Introduction:Quality of care is an important element in health care service delivery in low- and middle-income countries. Innovative strategies are critical to ensure that private providers implement quality of care interventions. We explored private providers’ experiences implementing a package of interventions intended to improve the quality of care in small and medium-sized private health facilities in Kenya.Methods:Data were collected as part of the qualitative evaluation of the African Health Markets for Equity (AHME) program in Kenya between June and July 2018. Private providers were purposively selected from 2 social franchise networks participating in AHME: the Amua network run by Marie Stopes Kenya and the Tunza network run by Population Services Kenya. Individual interviews (N=47) were conducted with providers to learn about their experiences with a package of interventions that included social franchising, SafeCare (a quality improvement program), National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) accreditation assistance, and business support.Results:Private providers felt they benefited from trainings in clinical methods and quality improvement offered through AHME. Providers especially appreciated the mentorship and guidelines offered through programs like social franchising and SafeCare, and those who received support for NHIF accreditation felt they were able to offer higher quality services after going through this process. However, quality improvement was sometimes prohibitively expensive for private providers in smaller facilities that already realize relatively low revenue and the NHIF accreditation process was difficult to navigate without the help of the AHME partners due to complexity and a lack of transparency.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that engaging private providers in a comprehensive package of quality improvement activities is achievable and may be preferable to a simpler program. However, further research that looks at the implications for cost and return on investment is required.