Quality in primary health care services in sub-Sahara Africa: right or privilege?

Abstract

The Primary Health Care (PHC) system has been the foundation for the operation of the health system in most of Sub-Sahara Africa following the Alma Ata Declaration in 1978. Quality of care is an important determinant of health services utilization, and is a health outcome of public health importance. It is known that the perception of the users about the quality of service offered in a health facility is a determinant of patient's choice of provider and willingness to pay for the services. This paper discusses quality of primary health care services with focus on perspectives of the users and the need for a user driven and business minded delivery of PHC services in Sub-Sahara African nations.

Keywords: Quality of care, Primary health care , PHC, Sub-Sahara, Africa