Queen Margaret University logo
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   QMU Repositories
    • eResearch
    • School of Health Sciences
    • The Institute for Global Health and Development
    • View Item
    •   QMU Repositories
    • eResearch
    • School of Health Sciences
    • The Institute for Global Health and Development
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Private practitioners in the slums of Karachi : what quality of care do they offer?

    Date
    1998-01
    Author
    Thaver, I.
    Harpham, T.
    McPake, Barbara
    Garner, Paul
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Thaver, I., Harpham, T., McPake, B. & Garner, P. (1998) Private practitioners in the slums of Karachi : what quality of care do they offer?, Social Science & Medicine, vol. 46, , pp. 1441-1449,
    Abstract
    Private health services have expanded in many developing countries over the last 10 yr. Qualified private practitioners provide basic health care for poorer groups in urban areas, although health care planners frequently criticize them for providing poor quality of care, charging high fees and failing to provide preventive health advice. In Karachi, a large city with more than 400 slums, private practitioners are important providers of care to the poor. This study assessed the nature and quality of care provided by 201 practitioners selected from four districts of the city. Vignettes of specific medical problems were used to assess their knowledge and their practice was measured by observing 658 doctor-patient contacts. The results show that knowledge was closer to accepted medical management than was their actual prescribing practice. On the other hand, their manners and interpersonal behaviour were good. Thus poor prescribing practice, which might equally stem from market influences as lack of knowledge, is the cause of low standards of care. In these circumstances, didactic in-service training to improve prescribing practice is unlikely to be successful.
     
    Our Research Report for 2000-2002 reflects an outstanding level of achievement throughout the institution and demonstrates once again our high level of commitment to strategic and applied research particularly in areas that enhance the quality of life.
     
    Official URL
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(97)10134-4
    URI
    https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/318
    Collections
    • The Institute for Global Health and Development

    Queen Margaret University: Research Repositories
    Accessibility Statement | Repository Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback | HTML Sitemap

     

    Browse

    All QMU RepositoriesCommunities & CollectionsBy YearBy PersonBy TitleBy QMU AuthorBy Research CentreThis CollectionBy YearBy PersonBy TitleBy QMU AuthorBy Research Centre

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Queen Margaret University: Research Repositories
    Accessibility Statement | Repository Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback | HTML Sitemap