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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: The effectiveness of syndromic management of sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients--a strategy that has been proposed for introduction to South Africa's public health sector--depends on both the quality of case management and health-seeking behavior patterns. These issues were assessed in 10 rural primary care clinics in South Africa's Hlabisa district. Field workers trained to present with STD syndromes (simulation patients) made a total of 44 clinic visits. In addition, 49 actual STD patients were interviewed when exiting clinics, facilities were checked for availability of essential drugs and equipment, 10 focus group discussions were held with staff, and STD syndrome surveillance was performed. Among simulated patients, only 9% were correctly managed (i.e., given correct drugs, condoms, and partner notification cards); appropriate counseling was provided in just 48% of visits. All clients interviewed as they left the clinic reported satisfactory or good staff attitudes, even though 39% waited over 1 hour to be seen and only 37% were seen in privacy. Only 6 clinics had syndromic management cards available, 3 reported intermittent drug shortages, and 7 lacked partner notification cards. In focus groups, staff demonstrated adequate knowledge of STDs, but poor morale and a lack of training in syndromic management. Finally, surveillance data revealed that, although 75% of patients presented within 1 week of symptom onset, 27% had been treated for an STD in the past 3 months and only 6% of those treated were contacts. An intervention comprised of staff training and STD syndrome packets has been designed to improve the quality of STD case management in South Africa.
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pubmed:publicationType |
Journal Article,
Clinical Trial,
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.,
Randomized Controlled Trial,
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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