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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Access as a policy-relevant concept in low- and middle-income countries
Health Economics, Policy and Law, Volume 4, No. 2, Year 2009
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Description
Although access to health care is frequently identified as a goal for health care policy, the precise meaning of access to health care often remains unclear. We present a conceptual framework that defines access to health care as the empowerment of an individual to use health care and as a multidimensional concept based on the interaction (or degree of fit) between health care systems and individuals, households, and communities. Three dimensions of access are identified: availability, affordability, and acceptability, through which access can be evaluated directly instead of focusing on utilisation of care as a proxy for access. We present the case for the comprehensive evaluation of health care systems as well as the dimensions of access, and the factors underlying each dimension. Such systemic analyses can inform policy-makers about the 'fit' between needs for health care and receipt of care, and provide the basis for developing policies that promote improvements in the empowerment to use care. © Cambridge University Press 2009.
Authors & Co-Authors
McIntyre, Di E.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Thiede, Michael
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Birch, Stephen
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Canada, Hamilton
Mcmaster University
United Kingdom, Manchester
The University of Manchester
Statistics
Citations: 304
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1017/S1744133109004836
ISSN:
17441331
e-ISSN:
1744134X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Phenomenological Study