Exploratory research on accessibility of health services in Mozambique

Title Health without Barriers. Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Mozambique

Location Cabo Delgado and Manica Provinces (Mozambique)

Duration 3 years

Lead partner AIFO

Partners E-35 Fondazione per la Progettazione Internazionale, Fondazione Aurora, Forum of Mozambican Associations of People with Disabilities, Provincial Health Directorate of Cabo Delgado, Provincial Health Directorate of Manica.

Funding AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation

 

Context

The morbidity and mortality burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is growing exponentially in Mozambique. Available data from WHO show that almost 80% of NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where these diseases disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. The project ‘Health without Barriers’ aims to enhance the accessibility of health services, ensure access to quality health care and promote the utilisation of services for the prevention and treatment of NCDs (including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cervical cancer) for the population in 5 Mozambican districts, with a special focus on people with disabilities.

The project objective is in line with Agenda 2030, and the planned activities take into account the main needs that prevent adequate control of NCDs in Mozambique, including: difficulties of access to health centres by the population and in particular people with disabilities (physical, economic and socio-cultural barriers); the lack of qualified health personnel and resources for early diagnosis, treatment and surveillance; lack of information among the population on preventive behaviours to be adopted (tendency to increase the adoption of risky behaviours in younger age groups); lack of means/equipment for early diagnosis, treatment and surveillance. The project therefore aims to work on these priority needs, collaborating with the Mozambican Ministry of Health.

 

General objective

The Inclusive Development Unit, carried out a fact-finding survey on the accessibility of health services for NCD within communities. A baseline and endline research examining the level of accessibility of these services and estimating the contribution of project activities to improving opportunities for access to NCD services will inform partners of the project.

 

Our contribution

In collaboration with AIFO, the Inclusive Development Unit created the research protocol, which was submitted to and approved by the National Bioethics Committee of Mozambique. The research target includes the catchment area of the five health centres involved in the project, i.e. part of the population residing in the districts covered by the intervention.

The survey adopted mixed methods through the administration of questionnaires to a sample of people with MNT and the conduct of Structured Focus Group Discussions (SFGD) with representatives of the local community and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities. Ten local researchers were trained remotely on the research design and the use of quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies.

The research team supervised the remote data collection work during the baseline (May 2023) and endline (May 2025) data collection, and then carried out the data analysis to verify how the situation had changed in terms of access to health services. The final endline report examines the extent to which the project activities have contributed to improving the use of health services by the target population, providing important policy recommendations related to the continuation of activities. The research results were discussed and validated with local project partners and, in particular, with representatives of the Mozambican Ministry of Health.

Read more on our Inclusive Development Unit