Patients’ views of the healthcare services during power outages in Pretoria Primary Healthcare

TL;DR

This study explores how power outages affect healthcare services and patient experiences at primary healthcare facilities in Pretoria.

Contribution

The study provides insights into patient perspectives and potential strategies to mitigate healthcare disruptions caused by power outages.

Findings

Power outages disrupted diagnostic, treatment, and administrative services at healthcare facilities.

Patients reported extended waiting times and poor health outcomes due to the outages.

Generators and other limited alternatives were used to address the problem.

Abstract

Power outages are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. They cause a partial or complete interruption of power supply for electrical customers, including the public, businesses and essential services. This study explored the experiences of patients at Pretoria Primary Healthcare facilities during power outages.

This was a qualitative study with a descriptive phenomenology design using focus group discussions in three Community Health Centres (Soshanguve 3, Phedisong 4 and Kgabo) of Pretoria.

Of the 19 respondents, 12 (63.12%) were women and 7 (36.84%) were men. The average age was 50.52, with a minimum of 30 years old and a maximum of 74 years old. Four themes emerged from the analysis: restricted healthcare services during power outages, alternatives available during power outages, patient perceptions of staff behaviour and attitudes during power outages and recommendations for mitigating the effects of power outages. These were expanded upon two sub-themes: previous attempts to involve staff for improvement and strategies for minimising the consequences of power outages in clinics.

In the selected Pretoria Primary Healthcare facilities, power outages disrupted medical services such as diagnostic, treatment and administration, resulting in extended waiting times and poor health outcomes. Generators and other restricted alternatives for resolving the problem were used.

Negative health effects can be prevented if the current issue is considered in the healthcare system.