Strengthening services for most vulnerable children through quality improvement approaches in a community setting: The case of Bagamoyo District, Tanzania

Abstract

This case describes the application of quality improvement to improve services provided at the community level to the most vulnerable children (MVC) in the community, those orphaned or affected by HIV. The case describes the experience of supporting local communities in Tanzania to implement the QI approach outlined in Tanzania’s National Most Vulnerable Children QI Guidelines. In particular, the case focuses on start-up activities needed to get the initiative up and running, including gaining buy-in from community leaders, determining baseline performance, mobilizing MVC committees to serve as QI teams to test changes to care processes, and supporting shared learning across teams. The case also speaks to the particular challenges as well as benefits of implementing QI at the community level.