CHOICE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES-CASE OF BUDIRIRO 4 HIGH DENSITY SUBURBS, HARARE

The study investigated the factors that determine patients' choice of health care provider in Zimbabwe, using data collected from Budiririro 4 by way of questionnaires. A sample of 150 people who reported having been sick within the last 12 months was collected. A multinomial logistic model was employed, further which marginal effects were calculated. The findings were that being male increases the probability of choosing Private and mission clinics/hospitals and decreases the probability of choosing public facilities and spiritual/ religious providers. As income increases, patients shun spiritual/religious providers and move to demand services from private clinics/hospitals. Increase in household size causes patients to move away from private clinics/hospital and demand services from religious/spiritual healers. Members of the apostolic sect are predisposed to choose spiritual/religious healers and have a lower probability of choosing private clinics/hospitals. Patients suffering from perceived severe illness have a lower probability of choosing public clinics/hospitals. An increase in user fees is associated with an increased probability of choosing private, mission and spiritual healers, a very surprising result. Perceived high quality in private and spiritual providers is associated with an increase probability that they are chosen by patients. The major recommendations were that the government should fully incorporate the private providers, formal and informal, into the system so as to improve access and health care utilization in Zimbabwe. The public provider should avail family discounts to improve access by large families. The government should intensify awareness campaigns to encourage members of apostolic sect to seek formal health care services. The Zimbabwean heath system should endeavor to eliminate the impasse that exists between health care funders and provider