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Background Little is known about healthcare-seeking behaviour and barriers to care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Emergency department patients in Tanzania with acute CVD were prospectively enrolled. Questionnaires were administered at enrollment and 30 d later. Results Of 241 patients, 186 (77.2%) had visited another facility for the same illness episode (median symptom duration prior to presentation was 7 d) and 82 (34.0%) reported that they were initially unaware of the potential seriousness of their symptoms. Of the 208 (86.3%) patients completing follow-up, 16 (7.7%) had died, 38 (18.3%) had visited another facility for persistent symptoms, 99 (47.6%) felt they understood their diagnosis, 87 (41.8%) felt they understood their treatment and 11 (7.8%) could identify any of their medications. Predictors of 30 d survival with symptom improvement included medication compliance (p<0.001), understanding the diagnosis (p=0.007), understanding the treatment (p<0.001) and greater CVD knowledge (p=0.008). Conclusions Patients with CVD in Tanzania usually visit multiple facilities for the same illness episode, typically after prolonged delays. Only a minority understand their diagnosis and treatment, and such understanding is correlated with survival with symptom improvement. Patient-centred interventions are needed to improve the quality of cardiovascular care in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is growing across sub-Saharan Africa and many healthcare systems are ill-equipped for this growing burden. Evidence suggests that healthcare providers may be underdiagnosing and undertreating ACS, leading to poor health outcomes. The goal of this study was to examine provider perspectives on barriers to ACS care in Tanzania in order to identify opportunities for interventions to improve care. Methods Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with physicians and clinical officers from emergency departments and outpatient departments in northern Tanzania. Thematic analysis was conducted using an iterative cycle of coding and consensus building. Results The 11 participants included six physicians and five clinical officers from health centers, community hospitals and one referral hospital. Providers identified barriers related to providers, systems and patients. Provider-related barriers included inadequate training regarding ACS and poor application of textbook-based knowledge. System-related barriers included lack of diagnostic equipment, unavailability of treatments, referral system delays, lack of data regarding disease burden, absence of locally relevant guidelines and cost of care. Patient-related barriers included inadequate ACS knowledge, inappropriate healthcare-seeking behavior and non-adherence. Conclusions This study identified actionable barriers to ACS care in northern Tanzania. Multifaceted interventions are urgently needed to improve care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Individuals in rural communities in Madagascar must frequently travel long distances, over difficult terrain, to obtain basic care. The quality of care is often inconsistent and inadequate. Methods An exploratory mixed-methods study was conducted in select coastal communities in the Maroantsetra region of Madagascar to generate a more robust understanding of community and health care provider perceptions and how patients decide to seek health care, including the decision to use traditional medicine vs allopathic medicine. A total of 69 free-listing exercises and 21 facility assessments were conducted in eight communities. Results Symptoms most commonly reported as reasons to seek health care included headaches, fever and cough. Decisions to access allopathic health care facilities depended on the intersection of geographic and financial access to health care facilities, perceived severity of the illness and the availability and confidence in traditional plant-based medications. Traveling salespeople, staff at local stores and pharmacy workers very often lacked formal training. Conclusions The decision to use allopathic medicine was determined by the perception of disease severity and when vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, were involved. Results provide insight into patterns, motivations and obstacles to health care utilization and decision making in the Maroantsetra region of Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]