Understanding lay perspectives: care options for STD treatment in Lusaka, Zambia
Msiska, R.; Nangawe, E.; Mulenga, D.; Sichone, M.; Kamanga, J.; Kwapa, P.
Health Policy and Planning 12(3): 248-252
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0268-1080 PMID: 10173406 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/12.3.248Document Number: 269138
Lusaka's health system is comprised of 4 hospitals, 22 government urban health centers, 144 private for-profit clinics, and more than 1000 traditional healers and traditional birth attendants. The authors explored laypeople's perspectives of sexually transmitted disease (STD) care services using 20 unstructured group interviews, 10 focus group discussions, and 4 STD case simulations in selected subpopulations of the city. People of differing age and sex were sampled. A large diversity of care options for STD was found in the communities, including self-care, traditional healers, medicine sold in the markets and streets, and injections administered in the compounds, private clinics, health centers, and hospitals. Lay referral mechanisms, social cost, the availability of care options, economics, beliefs, stigma, and the quality of care as perceived by users influence care-seeking behavior in this population.