STD treatment for men in rural and urban Zimbabwe: choice of practitioner, perceptions of access and quality of care

STD treatment choices and perceptions of treatment services (access, quality of care) by Zimbabwean men are examined in 2 settings: Mbare, a district within the capital city Harare, and Gutu, a rural town. Data collection included a survey of 457 men 18 years of age or older (from a stratified systematic sample), focus groups and key informant interviews. Of 220 cases of self-reported genital symptoms, 81.4% were treated by allopathic practitioners, 9% by traditional/faith healers, 8.6% by the subject, a friend or another person; 1.4% were not treated. Traditional/faith healers were consulted primarily for symptoms involving pain or discomfort rather than ulcers or exudation. Disrespect by the health care provider and consultations that were not private were cited as problems by a small minority of subjects. Significantly more respondents in Mbare than in Gutu had been prevented from obtaining the STD treatment they desired at some point in their life because of cost of treatment (χ 2=5.23, P=0.02). Given the current deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe, cost of treatment may become an even more important impediment in the future.