The interactions of public health organisational leadership with its environment: A case study of the pArirenyatwa group of hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe

Introduction: This is a case study of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. It analyses interactions of public health organisational leadership with its environment, within the context of Zimbabwe’s unique social, economic and political circumstances.Objective: To investigate how the local contextual environment of Zimbabwe’s unique social, economic and political situation interacted with leadership of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals; within Zimbabwe’s public health setting.Methods (Design, Setting, Participants and Interventions): The research design was of a case study of a central government hospital. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to conduct the research. An interview guide was used to give direction to interviews, but the questions and interviewing style were open-ended and exploratory. Purposive sampling and expert sampling were used to select respondents for interviews. Content analysis of administrative and management documents kept at the participating institution was carried out. This research is located within the theoretical framework of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR); and examines the institutional or meso-level of the healthcare system.Results and Discussion: Research findings are discussed under subheadings that correspond to the interactions of social, economic and political factors with public health institutional leadership.Conclusions and Recommendations: Based on the research findings, recommendations are made on relevant and effective changes to practice and policy, for the leadership of Zimbabwean public health institutions, recommendations that may have some applicability elsewhere as well, on the basis of lessons learnt.