Clients' perception of health workers and impact on health services offered at Kombewa demonstration health centre

Abstract

Objective: To study the clients' perception of health workers in relation to the services provided at the centre, thus defining the relationship between the client and the health worker and the impact of this relationship on the services provided. Study design: A Series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), interviews and observations were carried out in three (3) stages i.e baseline (TI), intervention (T2) and evaluation (T3) after 9 (nine) months. Qualitative and quantitative data were coUected at aU three levels. However, this study has laid more emphasis on the results of the qualitative data of the study. Study population and setting: The study population were rural women who received bealth services from Kombewa Rural Health Centre. Sampling: A selection of the women receiving the health services from the health facility within a five-kilometer radius who had consented to participate were identified. They were selected and grouped according to the foUowing age groups: 12-20,21-35 and over 35. Results: Indicated that the initial relationship between health workers and clients were very poor, but tremendously improved after the Health Workers for Change (HWFC) intervention at T2 and improved further at evaluation after nine months (T3). Conclusion: The clients' perception of the health workers has an impact on how the health services are used. The poor interpersonal relationship between the clients and the health facility staff led to lack of compliance with treatment and delayed seeking of health services among the women. The health workers also developed negative attitude towards their' clients, which made them lax in attending to them. The situation started improving with the initiation of HWFC intervention, where the health workers explored their situation and that of clients, which made them positive towards those that they served.