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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Perceptions and utilization of primary health care services in Iraq: Findings from a national household survey
BMC International Health and Human Rights, Volume 11, No. 1, Article 15, Year 2011
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Description
Background: After many years of sanctions and conflict, Iraq is rebuilding its health system, with a strong emphasis on the traditional hospital-based services. A network exists of public sector hospitals and clinics, as well as private clinics and a few private hospitals. Little data are available about the approximately 1400 Primary Health Care clinics (PHCCs) staffed with doctors. How do Iraqis utilize primary health care services? What are their preferences and perceptions of public primary health care clinics and private primary care services in general? How does household wealth affect choice of services?. Methods. A 1256 household national survey was conducted in the catchment areas of randomly selected PHCCs in Iraq. A cluster of 10 households, beginning with a randomly selected start household, were interviewed in the service areas of seven public sector PHCC facilities in each of 17 of Iraq's 18 governorates. A questionnaire was developed using key informants. Teams of interviewers, including both males and females, were recruited and provided a week of training which included field practice. Teams then gathered data from households in the service areas of randomly selected clinics. Results: Iraqi participants are generally satisfied with the quality of primary care services available both in the public and private sector. Private clinics are generally the most popular source of primary care, however the PHCCs are utilized more by poorer households. In spite of free services available at PHCCs many households expressed difficulty in affording health care, especially in the purchase of medications. There is no evidence of informal payments to secure health services in the public sector. Conclusions: There is widespread satisfaction reported with primary health care services, and levels did not differ appreciably between public and private sectors. The public sector PHCCs are preferentially used by poorer populations where they are important providers. PHCC services are indeed free, with little evidence of informal payments to providers. © 2011 Burnham et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Burnham, Gilbert M.
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hoe, Connie
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hung, Yuen Wai
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Ferati, Agron
United States, Los Angeles
International Medical Corps
Dyer, Allen
United States, Los Angeles
International Medical Corps
Hifi, Thamer
Iraq, Baghdad
Al-kindy College of Medicine University of Baghdad
Aboud, Rabia
Iraq, Baghdad
University of Baghdad
Hasoon, Tariq
Iraq, Baghdad
University of Baghdad
Statistics
Citations: 68
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-698X-11-15
e-ISSN:
1472698X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Female