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What does quality mean to lay people? Community perceptions of primary health care services in Guinea

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  • Haddad, Slim
  • Fournier, Pierre
  • Machouf, Nimâ
  • Yatara, Fassinet

Abstract

The success of strategies to revitalize primary health care services such as those advocated by the Bamako Initiative requires a response adapted to the expectations of the population, especially in terms of quality. The goal of this study, conducted in two rural communities in Guinea, was to identify, characterize, and classify the criteria that the public uses to judge the quality of primary health care (PHC) services. This study included 180 participants in 21 focus group discussions. Forty-four main criteria were identified. These criteria vary depending on the respondents' sex and age, and their ability to access primary health care services. Some of the criteria correspond to those used by health care providers, while others do not. The general public places considerable emphasis on outcomes, but little emphasis on preventive services. The users appear very sensitive to aspects of the interpersonal relations they have with professionals and the technical quality of the care provided. A taxonomy of perceived quality is developed, which includes the following five categories: (1) technical competence of the health care personnel; (2) interpersonal relations between the patients and care providers; (3) availability and adequacy of resources and services; (4) accessibility and (5) effectiveness of care. It is a major challenge to refocus on quality in the development of health care services. This will require considerable changes for which training may be an effective, but certainly not a sufficient means. Promoting professionalism and changing the relations between public authorities and the general public are the only means of improving the quality of health care services as well as user perception.

Suggested Citation

  • Haddad, Slim & Fournier, Pierre & Machouf, Nimâ & Yatara, Fassinet, 1998. "What does quality mean to lay people? Community perceptions of primary health care services in Guinea," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 381-394, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:47:y:1998:i:3:p:381-394
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Okeke, Theodora A. & Okeibunor, Joseph C., 2010. "Rural-urban differences in health-seeking for the treatment of childhood malaria in south-east Nigeria," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 62-68, April.
    2. Jitta, Jessica & Whyte, Susan Reynolds & Nshakira, Nathan, 2003. "The availability of drugs: what does it mean in Ugandan primary care," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 167-179, August.
    3. Chukwuani, Chinyere Mercellina & Olugboji, Akindeji & Akuto, Edward Erdorga & Odebunmi, Akim & Ezeilo, Ezenta & Ugbene, Emmanuel, 2006. "A baseline survey of the Primary Healthcare System in South Eastern Nigeria," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 182-201, July.
    4. Quimbo, Stella & Peabody, John W. & Javier, Xylee & Shimkhada, Riti & Solon, Orville, 2011. "Pushing on a string: How policy might encourage private doctors to compete with the public sector on the basis of quality," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 110(2), pages 101-103, February.
    5. Agnes Nanyonjo & Fredrick Makumbi & Patrick Etou & Göran Tomson & Karin Källander & for the inSCALE study group, 2013. "Perceived Quality of Care for Common Childhood Illnesses: Facility versus Community Based Providers in Uganda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-1, November.
    6. Bereket Yakob & Busisiwe Purity Ncama, 2016. "Correlates of perceived access and implications for health system strengthening – lessons from HIV/AIDS treatment and care services in Ethiopia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Baba-Ari, Fatima & Eboreime, Ejemai Amaize & Hossain, Mazeda, 2018. "Conditional cash transfers for maternal health interventions: Factors influencing uptake in North-Central Nigeria," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101627, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Slim Haddad & Valery Ridde & Ismaelou Yacoubou & Geneviève Mák & Michel Gbetié, 2012. "An Evaluation of the Outcomes of Mutual Health Organizations in Benin," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-8, October.
    9. Obinna Onwujekwe & Chima Onoka & Benjamin Uzochukwu & Eric Obikeze & Nkoli Ezumah, 2009. "Issues in equitable health financing in South Eastern Nigeria: Socio-economic and geographic differences in households' illness expenditures and policy makers' views on the financial protection of the," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 185-199.
    10. repec:rre:publsh:v:39:y:2009:i:2:p:213-25 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Friend-du Preez, Natalie & Cameron, Noël & Griffiths, Paula, 2013. "“So they believe that if the baby is sick you must give drugs…” The importance of medicines in health-seeking behaviour for childhood illnesses in urban South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 43-52.

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