Reasons for and perceptions of patients with minor ailments bypassing local primary health care facilities

Abstract

Introduction: Despite having access to several clinics and health centres in their local communities, numerous patients opt to go directly to hospitals for non-emergencies and minor ailments. Reasons for this include their perceptions of the quality of primary health care services, the attitudes and perceptions of health workers, opening hours of clinics, community involvement and participation, and drug and equipment availability as well as the quality of infrastructure. Perceptions of size, a lack of specialty care and limited services were most frequently mentioned as reasons why patients bypassed their local primary health care facilities.Aim: This study aimed to identify the reasons given by patients presenting with minor ailments, for bypassing their local primary health care facilities in the Greater Tzaneen municipal area to Letaba Hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed at Letaba Hospital over a three-month period, from 23 June 2008 to 15 August 2008, in which non-refe...