Patient Perceptions and Experiences of Public Healthcare Services in the Presence of a Healthcare NGO: A Qualitative Study in Moutse Valley, Sekhukhune, Limpopo, South Africa
Summary
Background: The public healthcare system in South Africa grapples with limitations that hinder comprehensive patient care. Moutse Valley, located in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo, presents an intriguing scenario where Ndlovu Care Group (NCG), an NGO, initially played a crucial role in bolstering healthcare services during the HIV epidemic. As HIV prevalence waned, the provision of NCG assistance shifted to private channels which were no longer free of charge. Research questions: This study seeks to explore the perceptions and utilisation patterns of public healthcare services among residents of Moutse Valley, Sekhukhune district, Limpopo, South Africa. Additionally, it aims to investigate the influence exerted by the presence of NCG on the perception of public healthcare services within this context. Methods: In semi-structured interviews, community members of Moutse Valley were engaged to discuss predisposing, enabling, and needs factors in line with the Andersen model of healthcare utilisation. Results: The study involved 31 participants who were all residents of Moutse Valley at the time of the study. Foremost among the barriers to healthcare utilisation were factors such as limited biomedical knowledge, preference for alternative healing methods, concerns about the quality of public healthcare, transportation issues, and financial constraints. Moreover, comparisons between publicly provided services and the privately funded healthcare by NCG were common, contributing to dissatisfaction with public services. Conclusion: This study sheds light on barriers to accessing public healthcare in Moutse Valley, uncovering quality of care, traditional practices, disease stigma, financial constraints, and transportation issues as key challenges. The presence of NCG's privately funded services has influenced dissatisfaction with public healthcare. Moreover, the Andersen model's application and adaptation underscores the influence of historical factors and highlights the role of NGOs in bridging healthcare gaps. While limitations exist, addressing these issues is imperative given rising disease burdens and healthcare challenges.