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