OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of care of the syndromic management of @entity2953 ( @entity2953 ) in Botswana's primary health care. METHODS: Participative observations of 224 consecutive consultations of @entity1 with @entity2953 (135 females and 89 males) by nurses. Twenty-one cases were excluded because no STD checklist was filled in. Criteria for acceptable history taking, physical examination and correct treatment were agreed upon. RESULTS: The quality of history taking and physical examination was acceptable for 25% and 23% of the @entity1 and for 54% and 57% of the @entity1 , respectively. Approximately, 65% of the @entity1 and 81% of the @entity1 received appropriate treatment. On average, consultations took 5.4 min for @entity1 and 4.6 min for @entity1 . STD contacts comprised 11% of STD cases. Advice on partner notification was provided to 66% of the @entity1 and 86% of @entity1 , and 75% and 89%, respectively, were counselled on the use of condoms. In half of the health facilities the lack of a fixed light source was the main constraint in carrying out a vaginal speculum examination. The availability of antibiotics and condoms was excellent. In 40% of the health facilities, all STD algorithms were displayed in the consultation room. CONCLUSION: One-third of @entity1 and one-fifth of @entity1 did not receive appropriate treatment for their STD, in spite of excellent provision of drugs. Although Botswana health workers perform relatively well on partner notification and counselling, there is considerable scope for improving the quality of medical history and clinical examination, especially in @entity1 . Emphasis should be given on training health workers in clinical examinations, in particular in pelvic examinations, and to supervision and in-service training.

Syndromic management of XXXX in Botswana's primary health care: quality of care aspects.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'men'] @entity2953 :: ('MESH:D012749', 'Disease') :: ['STDs', 'sexually transmitted diseases']
@entity2953 :: (MESH:D012749,Disease) :: ['sexually transmitted diseases']
