Email this article 
Hide
Show all
The willingness of private-sector doctors to manage public-sector HIV/AIDS patients in the eThekwini metropolitan region of KwaZulu-Natal
Abstract
Objectives: To gauge the willingness of private-sector doctor to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients and to describe factors that may infuence their responses.
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken among private-sector doctors, both general practitioners (GPs) and specialists, working in the eThekwini Metro, using an anonymous, structured questionnaire to investigate their willingness to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients and the factors associated with their responses. Chi-square and independent t-tests were used to evaluate associations. Odds ratios were determined using a binary logistic regression model. A p value
< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Most of the doctors were male GPs aged 30–50 years who had been in practice for more than 10 years. Of these, 133 (77.8%) were willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients, with 105 (78.9%) reporting adequate knowledge, 99 (74.4%) adequate time, and 83 (62.4%) adequate infrastructure. Of the 38 (22.2%) that were unwilling to manage these patients, more than 80% cited a lack of time, knowledge and infrastructure to manage them. Another reason cited by five doctors (3.8%) who were unwilling, was the distance from public-sector facilities. Of the 33 specialist doctors, 14 (42.4%) indicated that they would not be willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients, compared with only 24 (17.4%) of the 138 GPs (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Many private-sector doctors are willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients in the eThekwini Metro, potentially removing some of the current burden on the public health sector.
How to cite this article: Naidoo P, Jinabhai CC, Taylor M. The willingness of private-sector doctors to manage public-sector HIV/AIDS patients in the eThekwini metropolitan region of KwaZulu-Natal. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2010;2(1), Art. #102, 5 pages. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v2i1.102
References
Wilton Park, in cooperation with The Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco, Global Health Sciences and The Healthcare Redesign Group. Public–private investment partnerships in health systems strengthening. Proceedings of the 909th Wilton Park Conference; 2008 April 9–11, Wilton Park, UK [document on the Internet]. 2008 [cited 2009 April 17]. Available from: http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/documents/conferences/WP909/pdfs/ WP909.pdf
Department of Health. National consultative health forum. Proceedings of the National Consultative Health Forum; 2006 May 18–19; Sandton, South Africa [homepage on the Internet]. Available from: http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/misc/nhcf.html
MediaClubSouthAfrica.com. Health care in South Africa [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2009 April 9]. Available from: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/ index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102%3Ahealthcare&catid=34%3Adeve lopment_bg&Itemid=52
Progress report on declaration of commitment on HIV and AIDS, Republic of South Africa. Reporting period: January 2006–December 2007. Prepared for: United Nations General Assembly special session on HIV and AIDS [document on the Internet]. c2008 [cited 2009 June 1]. Available from: http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/south_africa_2008_country_progress_report_en.pdf
Bjorkman JW. Public private partnerships in health care services of less developed countries. Paper presented at: IPSA Conference, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; 2008 April 30–May 2. [document on the Internet]. c2008 [cited 2009 May 14]. Available from: http:// www.montreal2008.info/site/images/PAPERS/section3/RC%2025%20-%20Bjorkman%20-%203.4.pdf
HIV and AIDS in South Africa [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2009 May 20]. Available from: http://www.avert.org/aidssouthafrica.htm
Bradshaw D, Groenewald P, Laubscher R, et al. Initial burden of disease estimates for South Africa, 2000 [document on the Internet]. 2003 [cited 2009 May 29]. Available from: http://www.mrc.ac.za/bod/initialbodestimates.pdf
UNAIDS, HIV/AIDS and STI. National strategic plan 2007–2011: Report on the global AIDS epidemic. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2008.
Israel E. Fostering public–private partnership in HIV prevention, care and treatment in Vietnam. Paper presented at: 33rd Annual Conference on Global Health; 2006 May 30–June 2; Washington DC, USA [document on the Internet] 2006 [cited 2009 April 9]. Available from: http:// www.psp-one.com/files/3073_file_B3_Isreal.pdf
SouthAfrica.info. Gateway to the nation [homepage on the Internet]. No date [updated 2007 Sep; cited 2008 Dec 23]. Available from: http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/popprov.htm
South Africa HIV and AIDS stats [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2009 January 8]. Available from: http://www.avert.org/safricastats.htm
eThekwini–Ulwazi-our shared knowledge [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2009 January 8]. Available from: http://wiki.ulwazi.org/index.php5?title=EThekwini
Naidoo P, Jinabhai CC, Taylor M. Role and contribution of private health care sector doctors in the management of HIV-infected patients in the eThekwini Metropolitan area of KwaZulu-Natal. South Afr J Epidemiol Infect. 2007;22(1):13–17.
Quach L, Meyer K, McGarvey ST, Lurie MN, Phuong DO. Knowledge, attitudes and practices among physicians on HIV/AIDS in Quang Ninh, Vietnam. AIDS Patient Care STDs. 2005;19(5):335–346.
Fournier PO, Baldor RA., Warfield ME, Frazier B. Patients with HIV/AIDS: Physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and referral practices. J Fam Pract. 1997;44(1):85–89.
Naidoo P. Barriers to HIV care and treatment by doctors: A review of the literature. S Afr Fam Pract J. 2006;48(2):55.
Massiah E, Roach TC, Jacobs C, et al. Stigma, discrimination and HIV/AIDS knowledge among physicians in Barbados. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2004;16(6):395–401.
Sheikh K, Rangan S, Kielmann K, Deshpande S, Datye V, Porter J. Private providers and HIV testing in Pune, India: Challenges and opportunities. AIDS Care. 2005;17(6):757–766.
Chetty M. How sustainable is South African private health care? [homepage on the Internet] 2009 [cited 2009 April 17]. Available from: http://medical.bizcommunity.com/ Article/196/148/34815.html
Goudge J. The publicprivate mix. [document on the Internet]. Centre for Health Policy. No date [cited 2009 April 17]. Available from: http://www.healthlink.org.za/uploads/files/chapter6_99.pdf
Full Text: PDF (284 KB) HTML XML
