Performance of primary care in different health care facilities: a cross sectional study of patients’ experiences in Southern Malawi

Objective: In most African countries, primary care is delivered through a district health system. Many factors, including staffing levels, staff experience, availability of equipment and facility management, affect the quality of primary care between and within countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of primary care in different types of public health facilities in Southern Malawi. Study design: This was a cross sectional quantitative study. Setting: The study was conducted in 12 public primary care facilities in Neno, Blantyre and Thyolo districts in July 2018. Participants: Patients aged 18 years and above, excluding the severely ill, were selected to participate in the study. Primary outcomes: We used the Malawian primary care assessment tool to conduct face-to-face interviews. ANOVA at 0.05 significance level was performed to compare primary care dimension means and total primary care scores. Linear regression models at 95% CI were used to assess associations...