Patients' Satisfaction with Quality of Anti-Retroviral Services in Central Nigeria: Implications for Strengthening Private Health Services

Abstract

Private health sector has the potential to ease the increasing burden on public health resources brought about by scaling-up of HIV treatment and care services. However, quality concerns have limited its role. A cross-sectional study comparing patients’ satisfaction with quality of anti-retroviral services between public and private health-care facilities was carried out. Using an adapted Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire III, exit interviews were conducted for 809 consecutive adult HIV positive patients. Patients spent significantly less time visiting public health facility compared to private health facility. Median time spent waiting to see a doctor in public health facility was half of the time spent in private health facility. Patients on anti-retroviral drugs in public health facility spent significantly less time to collect drugs compared to patients in private health facility. Mean satisfaction scores of patients who attended public health facility were higher than scores of patients who attended private health facility in general satisfaction, technical quality of services provided, interpersonal manner, communication and time spent with doctor domains. Dissatisfaction with antiretroviral services in private health facilities could threaten attainment of anti-retroviral treatment objectives. Private health sector integration into HIV treatment services might improve service delivery and promote good clinical practice.