A review of the interactions of public health organisational leadership with its environment, and subsequent practice and policy-making responses

Abstract

Background. This is a review of the literature on the interactions between public health organisational leadership and its environment, and subsequent practice and policy-making responses. It is a narrative review.
Objective. To glean insights for Zimbabwe.
Methods. Literature is examined from other Anglophone sub-Saharan African countries that have health systems similar to that of Zimbabwe. Literature from the UK is included because, in Anglophone sub-Saharan African countries, the public health systems are similar to that of the UK and they are based on the British model, given their shared history as former British colonies.

Results. A review of the literature reveals that interactions of local contexts and local environments with the leadership of public health institutions are complex, perplexing and important. Healthcare organisations are professional complex adaptive systems, requiring leadership skills for context-specific challenges of local environments. Practice and policy-making responses are considered with respect to experiences in various jurisdictions.

Conclusion. The literature review reveals that public health leadership practice and policy-making interventions have been conducted in various jurisdictions, in response to contextual factors, but there are few studies done in Zimbabwe. It is recommended that in future more research be conducted on public health organisational leadership in Zimbabwe.