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Primary health care (PHC) is central to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, yet comparable cross-country data on key aspects of primary care have not been widely available. This study analysed data from the People's Voice Survey, which was conducted in 2022 and 2023 in 14 countries. We documented usual source of care across countries and examined associations of usual source of care with core PHC services, quality ratings, and health system confidence. We found that 75% of respondents had a usual source of care, and that 40% of respondents accessed usual care in the public sector at primary level. 44% rated their usual source of care as very good or excellent. Access to PHC-linked screenings and treatments varied widely within and across countries. Having any usual source of care was associated with higher take-up of preventive services, greater access to treatment including mental health services, and greater health system endorsement. Strengthening links between health system users and primary care providers could improve take-up of preventive care and increase user satisfaction with health system performance.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00513-2

Type

Journal

The Lancet. Global health

Publication Date

01/2024

Volume

12

Pages

e134 - e144

Addresses

Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: kcroke@hsph.harvard.edu.

Keywords

Humans, Internationality, Primary Health Care