ArticleBMC health services research2022
Access to health care for people with stroke in South Africa: a qualitative study of community perspectives.
Article in BMC health services research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tertiary prevention interventions for patients with stroke in African countries: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- Health seeking behaviours and private sector delivery of care for non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.BMC health services research · 2024Pooled it
- Online Community Support for Stroke Survivors and Caregivers: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Barriers to thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke: an epidemiological review from a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence · 2026Article
- Article
- Functional outcomes post-stroke: Evidence from private rehabilitation facilities in South Africa between 2006 and 2023.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2026Article
- Occupational Therapy Referral Pathways for Upper Limb Conditions in Tygerberg, South Africa: Stakeholder Perspectives.Occupational therapy international · 2026Article
- Healing beyond the physical: Ethical approaches to emotional support in post-stroke recovery.African journal of disability · 2026Article
- Post-stroke recovery and home care challenges among stroke survivors and family caregivers in Tanzania: a qualitative study.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Demographic Disparities in Stroke Occurrence: Insights From an Integrative Review of Emerging Trends.Brain and behavior · 2025Review
- Developing a strategic action plan for reducing the burden of stroke in Africa: report of the first African Stroke Leaders' Summit.Frontiers in stroke · 2025Article
- Views of Service Users, Their Family or Carers, and Health Care Professionals on Telerehabilitation for People With Neurological Conditions in Ghana: Qualitative Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Article
- Clinical outcomes associated with speech, language and swallowing difficulties post-stroke.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIncidence of stroke is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. People who survive stroke experience disability and require long-term care. Health systems in South Africa (SA) are experiencing important challenges, and services in the public health system for people with stroke (PWS) are fragmented. We aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of PWS related to stroke care services to inform health system strengthening measures.
methodsIn-depth interviews with 16 PWS in urban and rural areas in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of SA were conducted between August and October 2020. PWS were recruited through existing research networks, non-government organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities by snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed. We used the conceptual framework of access to health care as proposed by Levesque et al. to map and inform barriers to accessing health care from the user perspective.
resultsPWS recognised the need for health care when they experienced signs of acute stroke. Health literacy on determinants of stroke was low. Challenges to accessing stroke care include complex pathways to care, physical mobility related to stroke, long travel distances and limited transport options, waiting times and out of pocket expenses. The perceived quality of services was influenced by cultural beliefs, attitudinal barriers, and information challenges. Some PWS experienced excellent care and others particularly poor care. Positive staff attitude, perceived competence and trustworthiness went in hand with many technical and interpersonal deficits, such as long waiting times and poor staff attitude that resulted in poor satisfaction and reportedly poor outcomes for PWS.
conclusionsStrategic leadership, governance and better resources at multiple levels are required to address the unmet demands and needs for health care of PWS. Stroke care could be strengthened by service providers routinely providing information about prevention and symptoms of stroke, treatment, and services to patients and their social support network. The role of family members in continuity of care could be strengthened by raising awareness of existing resources and referral pathways, and facilitating connections within services.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.