CHOICE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES-CASE OF BUDIRIRO 4 HIGH DENSITY SUBURBS, HARARE
Date
2020-09-25
Authors
RANGANAI, MUNERI
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
Abstract
The study investigated the factors that determine patients’ choice of health care provider in
Zimbabwe, using data collected from Budiririro 4 by way of questionnaires. A sample of 150
people who reported having been sick within the last 12 months was collected. A multinomial
logistic model was employed, further which marginal effects were calculated. The findings were
that being male increases the probability of choosing Private and mission clinics/hospitals and
decreases the probability of choosing public facilities and spiritual/ religious providers. As
income increases, patients shun spiritual/religious providers and move to demand services from
private clinics/hospitals. Increase in household size causes patients to move away from private
clinics/hospital and demand services from religious/spiritual healers. Members of the apostolic
sect are predisposed to choose spiritual/religious healers and have a lower probability of
choosing private clinics/hospitals. Patients suffering from perceived severe illness have a lower
probability of choosing public clinics/hospitals. An increase in user fees is associated with an
increased probability of choosing private, mission and spiritual healers, a very surprising result.
Perceived high quality in private and spiritual providers is associated with an increase
probability that they are chosen by patients. The major recommendations were that the
government should fully incorporate the private providers, formal and informal, into the system
so as to improve access and health care utilization in Zimbabwe. The public provider should
avail family discounts to improve access by large families. The government should intensify
awareness campaigns to encourage members of apostolic sect to seek formal health care
services. The Zimbabwean heath system should endeavor to eliminate the impasse that exists
between health care funders and provider
Description
Health Economics