Social Work Services at Dakto District Health Center, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam: Challenges and Policy Recommendations

ABSTRACT

The provision of social work services at district health centers are not well reported in previous studies. This study aimed to report the results of the provision of social work services at Dakto District Health Center, Kon Tum province, Vietnam, and to find out factors affecting this provision. This was a cross-sectional study that used secondary data, 13 in-depth interviews, and 2 focus group discussions to collect data. Among the social work services prescribed by the Ministry of Health, Dakto District Health Center provided the following four services: information instruction and consultation services, and psychological support for patients; communication and health promotion services; services in support of health workers; and resources mobilization and coordination services. Our study found factors that hinder the provision of social work services at the center and suggested policies to the related parties.

KEYWORDS:

• Hospital social work
• social work services
• district health center
• patients
• policy
• Vietnam

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the kind cooperation and participation of Dakto District Health Center, Kon Tum province, Vietnam.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.