Objective: To explore Rwandan women's experiences, priorities, and preferences in accessing health care for non-pregnancy-related conditions and inform development of healthcare services related to these conditions among women of reproductive age at district hospitals and health centers in Rwanda.
Methods: We used a mixed-methods, exploratory sequential design. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with Rwandan women and coded thematically. A cross-sectional quantitative survey based on the qualitative data was administered to women attending health centers.
Results: Seventeen interviews and 150 surveys were conducted. Women identified conditions including back pain, gynecologic cancers, and abnormal vaginal bleeding as concerns. They generally reported positive experiences while accessing health care and knowledge of accessing health care. Barriers to care were identified, including transportation costs and inability to miss work. Women expressed a desire for more control over their care and the importance of maintaining their dignity while accessing health care.
Conclusion: These findings provide useful insights to inform development of non-pregnancy-related healthcare services for women in Rwanda according to their priorities and preferences. The reported end-user health concerns, barriers to care, and diminished control over their care point to a need to evolve health systems around user-tailored needs and design interventions optimizing access whilst promoting dignified care.
Keywords: Rwanda; cancer screening; district hospital; gynecology; patient centered care; women's health.
© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.