Assessing the role of gender-sensitive budgets on the promotion of child healthcare in Masaka municipality
Abstract
This study assessed the role of gender sensitive budgeting on the promotion of child
healthcare in Masaka Municipality. The study was premised on the following research
objectives: to find out strategies for addressing gender issues in budgeting with focus on child
healthcare in Masaka Municipality, To examine how resource allocation has reduced child
mortality rate in Masaka Municipality and To examine how financial accountability affects
child healthcare in Masaka Municipality.
The research used a qualitative approach. A case study design was also employed for the
study. In this study, a total number of 30 respondents were expected but 27 respondents
returned the research instruments representing a response rate of 90%. The primary data was
collected using questionnaires and interviews and the researcher also used document review
for secondary data collection. Data was analyzed using interpretational techniques. This
means that the data was categorized into constructs, themes and patterns for easy analysis.
The study found out that the budgeting process incorporated gender main streaming and
equality in all key areas like decision making, planning, political leadership, technical staff to
add more. It further found out that child health care and equality are promoted in the health
and child mortality has reduced in Masaka municipality. The findings also revealed that there
is limited involvement of the local people in the budgeting process, political interference and
inadequate resource allocation to child health care and that people involved in the in the
budgeting process have low or limited knowledge in budgeting, monitoring and follow up of
child health care and resource allocation.
Basing on the findings, the researcher has recommended the government to increase
community participation in budgeting and assessment of child health care service delivery,
strengthen monitoring by use of technocrats, reduce political interference in health, scale up
health intervention to address high burden of preventable diseases, increase resource
allocation and also proper utilization of the available resources for better child health care
service delivery