Healthcare providers perspectives on opportunities and challenges for adopting comprehensive primary healthcare-seeking behaviour in selected districts in Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Comprehensive primary healthcare (PHC) can address over 80% of global health needs across a lifetime. Adopting health-seeking behaviour (HSB) within PHC frameworks is critical for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) by 2030. Aim: Evidence on the adaptation of comprehensive PHC-HSB in Tanzania remains limited. This study explored opportunities and challenges for adopting comprehensive primary healthcare-seeking behaviour (PHC-HSB) in two districts of Tanzania. Setting: This study was conducted in two district councils (DCs) in Tanzania (Iringa and Sumbawanga DCs) selected based on the population served by skilled healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: An exploratory qualitative case study design was employed, using in-depth interviews (IDIs) with HCWs and community health workers (CHWs). Data were analysed thematically using NVivo software. Results: The study found that key opportunities for adopting comprehensive HSB include the existence of exemptions and waiver, presence of special clinics, benefits of early seeking behaviour, availability of outreach services, community’s interest in health issues, presence of CHWs and health education provided at the household level. Conclusion: The challenges mentioned were frequent stockout of drugs, overburdened health facilities (HFs) because of large catchment areas, cultural and behavioural barriers to timely health-seeking, unreliable and inadequate transport systems, poor continuity of preventive health-seeking after campaigns, and low health insurance coverage. Contribution: Adopting comprehensive HSB in Tanzania is feasible but requires government efforts to strengthen infrastructure, drug supply chains and community education.