TY - JOUR
T1 - Physicians' Perspectives Regarding Informal Health Practitioners in Bangladesh
AU - Khan, Zahid Hasan
AU - Hanson, Olivia R
AU - Amin, Mohammad Ashraful
AU - Khan, Ishtiakul I
AU - Biswas, Debashish
AU - Islam, Md Taufiqul
AU - Nelson, Eric J
AU - Mangadu, Aparna
AU - Qadri, Firdausi
AU - Watt, Melissa H
AU - Leung, Daniel T
AU - Khan, Ashraful Islam
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Rural Bangladesh faces challenges of limited health care resources and a shortage of health care professionals. Informal providers, particularly village doctors, fill this void by being a first point of care and a bridge to the formal health care system. This study explores formally trained physicians' perspectives on village doctors' role in the health care system. This qualitative study was conducted in southeast Bangladesh and included 12 individual in-depth interviews with physicians. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis, focusing on both the contributions and shortcomings of village doctors. Three themes emerged for positive contributions of village doctors: 1) provision of essential services and resources in isolated areas, 2) enhanced accessibility and familiarity with the community, and 3) active involvement in public health education. Five themes emerged related to the shortcomings and negative impacts of village doctors: 1) insufficient education and training, 2) use of inappropriate treatments, 3) inappropriate referrals, 4) misuse and overuse of antibiotics, and 5) prioritization of financial gain. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between formal and informal health care providers, emphasizing both the contributions and shortcomings of village doctors in rural health care settings.
AB - Rural Bangladesh faces challenges of limited health care resources and a shortage of health care professionals. Informal providers, particularly village doctors, fill this void by being a first point of care and a bridge to the formal health care system. This study explores formally trained physicians' perspectives on village doctors' role in the health care system. This qualitative study was conducted in southeast Bangladesh and included 12 individual in-depth interviews with physicians. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis, focusing on both the contributions and shortcomings of village doctors. Three themes emerged for positive contributions of village doctors: 1) provision of essential services and resources in isolated areas, 2) enhanced accessibility and familiarity with the community, and 3) active involvement in public health education. Five themes emerged related to the shortcomings and negative impacts of village doctors: 1) insufficient education and training, 2) use of inappropriate treatments, 3) inappropriate referrals, 4) misuse and overuse of antibiotics, and 5) prioritization of financial gain. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between formal and informal health care providers, emphasizing both the contributions and shortcomings of village doctors in rural health care settings.
U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0597
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0597
M3 - Article
C2 - 40068218
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 112
SP - 1162
EP - 1167
JO - The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 5
ER -
