Table 2

Preferred provider attributes

Attribute

Government facility

Private clinic or drug shop

Comments

1. Attend to clients fast

No

Yes

Some times one waits at government facilities and does not get treatment

2. Can attend to the child any time of day or night

No

Yes

At night it is difficult to go to government facilities because they are far

3. Are nearby

No

Yes

Sometimes the cost of transport is more than the cost of treatment

4. Have drugs in constant supply

No

Yes

Drug shops do not have the new anti-malarials of Coartem^®

5. Can conduct investigations

Yes

No

Investigations are needed to find out why previous treatment did not work

6. Have qualified workers

Yes

No

Drug shops have unqualified workers but there is no choice, caretakers have to use them

7. Handle complicated illnesses

Yes

No

Without the lab, there is need for investigations and drug shops do not have that capacity

Rutebemberwa et al. Malaria Journal 2009 8:131   doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-131