Sheikh, Kabir; Rangan, Sheela; Deshmukh, Deepali; Dholakia, Yatin; Porter, John; (2005) Urban private practitioners: potential partners in the care of patients with HIV/AIDS. The National medical journal of India, 18 (1). pp. 32-36. ISSN 0970-258X https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/13681
Permanent Identifier
Use this permanent URL when citing or linking to this resource.
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/13681
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The private medical sector is an important source of healthcare in India. Increasingly, concerns have been raised about its role in the care of patients with HIV/AIDS. Evidence about private practitioners' existing management practices will help to create policies addressing this sector. METHODS: A central urban area of Pune city was selected for its high density of healthcare facilities. Private practitioners in the area were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. Based on a 1-year recall period, the schedule covered different aspects of the practitioners' HIV/AIDS management practices including diagnosis, treatment and referral. RESULTS: Of the 215 practitioners interviewed, 66% had tested and diagnosed HIV infection. Fifty-four per cent had been consulted by HIV-infected clients 'shopping' for alternative diagnoses or treatment. Overall, 75% of the respondents had been consulted by HIV-infected clients for treatment. Of these, 14% had prescribed antiretroviral drugs, sometimes without adequate knowledge of the guidelines for their use. Other supportive and symptomatic treatments were also frequently prescribed. Private practitioners commonly referred HIV-infected clients for management to other private doctors, or to public hospitals. There were variations in respondents' practices by sex and system of medicine. CONCLUSION: Private practitioners are actively involved in diagnosing and managing patients with HIV/AIDS. Some of their management practices are inappropriate and need to be remedied. There are also concerns about gaps in the continuity of care of HIV-infected persons, for which networks between providers need to be strengthened. Public-private partnerships must be created to improve the flow of information to private practitioners, and Include them in the national health framework.
Item Type | Article |
---|---|
Keywords | Tuberculosis patients, health-care, india, mumbai, hiv, prevalence, epidemic, clinics, seeking, sector |
Faculty and Department |
Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Global Health and Development Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases > Dept of Clinical Research |
PubMed ID | 15835490 |
ISI | 228169600009 |