From: Differences in health care seeking behaviour between rural and urban communities in South Africa
 | Urban | Rural |
---|---|---|
Preferred health care provider | N = 125 | N = 81 |
· Private medical doctor | 50.4 | 14.8 |
· Health clinic | 31.2 | 71.8 |
· Traditional healer | 5.6 | 9.9 |
· No (clear) preference | 12.8 | 3.5 |
Reasons to visit a private medical doctor | N = 120 | N = 52 |
· When a person is sick/ill or not feeling well1 | 48.8 | 71.5 |
· When a person is very sick/ill or not feeling well at all | 21.5 | 7.6 |
· When a person has pain | 7.0 | 1.2 |
· When health clinic or self-medication did not improve the condition | 9.3 | 5.8 |
· When I have enough money | 1.7 | 0.6 |
Reasons to visit a health clinic | N = 122 | N = 77 |
· When a person is sick/ill or not feeling well* | 48.4 | 68.8 |
· When a person is very sick/ill or not feeling well at all | 7.4 | 7.8 |
· When a person has pain | 4.9 | 16.9 |
· To fetch monthly treatment | 32.8 | 10.4 |
· No money (e.g. for a private doctor) | 10.7 | 7.8 |
Reasons to visit a traditional healer | N = 40 | N = 25 |
· When Western science does not improve the condition†| 32.5 | 16.0 |
· When I have problems/issues in the social part of my life | 37.5 | 32.0 |
· When I have physical problems | 22.5 | 28.0 |
· When I suspect witchcraft | 2.5 | 16.0 |