“…with the third eye we can detect mistakes and correct them…’’ Supportive supervision and the management of Clubfoot by Ponseti method: Qualitative experiences from Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

Supportive supervision is the key to health programs in the provision of quality care. Clubfoot or Congenital Talipes Equinovarus remains among the prevalent congenital musculoskeletal birth defects in Tanzania. In 2015, Tanzania introduced supportive supervision guidelines for clubfoot treatment. However, little is known about how supportive supervision helps maintain the skills of providers. To analyze the supportive supervision in maintaining the clinical skills of healthcare workers in clubfoot management in Mwanza, Tanzania. An exploratory qualitative case study employing in-depth interviews (IDIs) with healthcare providers, supervisors, and parents of children with clubfoot was conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania. Data were collected from 3 purposefully selected hospitals and 32 IDI were conducted with the selected participants between April and May 2021. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct the IDIs. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Two categories were identified in this study. First “the contribution of supportive supervision” attributed by its purpose and the success brought by the supportive supervision. Second, “the maintenance of healthcare workers’ skills was attributed to their willingness to learn and actively engage in supportive supervision, cooperation with clinics and clubfoot programmes, and material support. The findings of this study underscore the contribution of supportive supervision to maintaining skills in the management of clubfoot in Tanzania. The findings of this study highlight the importance of joint efforts to maintain quality service skills.