Stakeholders' perception of possible integration pathways for eye health into school health programme in Zanzibar: a qualitative health system research

PurposeTo scope the potential for eye health programme to be integrated into Zanzibar School Health programme, through the lenses of stakeholders MethodsEmbedded into an operational research project integrating eye and School health, we elicited responses from 83 participants, purposefully selected from the Ministry of Health (n=7), Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (n=7), hospitals/eye centres (n=5), master trainers (4) and schools (n=60) participated in in-depth interviews. Their responses were analysed and grouped into four pre-determined themes of Human Resource Training, Resources Mobilisation, Acceptability, and Leadership and Governance. Quotations are presented to illustrate the findings. ResultsIn line with the four research themes, i) The integrated school eye health programme training was satisfactory, with room for improvement, ii) Child eye health screening conducted by teachers was well-received, with concerns and suggestions to improve its effectiveness and efficiency, iii) Integration of eye health into the school health programme is perceived as a good initiative, but to increase referral, service uptake and spectacle usage, primary care units must be equipped, and eye health awareness needs to be improved, iv) Departmental roles, resources, gaps and synergies to ensure eye health is successfully integrated into the school health programme. ConclusionThe concept of integrated school eye health delivery is generally well-received by beneficiaries and stakeholders within an operational research project in Zanzibar, with the caveat that investment is required for effective referral and update.