QUALITY OF CARE IN SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN ZAMBIA - PATIENTSPERSPECTIVE

The aims of this study were to describe Zambiam STD patients response to treatment, compliance with partner notification and further to meas ure patients' satisfaction with the health care received. The majority of 179 STD patients (92 men, 87 women) interviewed twice at an urban health centre were not satisfied with the care received. Their respons e to treatment and compliance with partner notification were not satis factory, Thirteen patients had not been able to buy medicines, since t hey had no money. One hundred and twenty-five patients had asked 134 s exual partners to come for treatment but only 60 percent of them had r eceived treatment. To get free medicines, to have privacy, to get inje ctions instead of tablets, to be examined before treatment, and to be informed about the diagnosis were judged most important for good quali ty STD care. Health workers must improve their communication and couns elling skills to understand the needs of their patients, who are the u ltimate evaluators of the quality of care.