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As African countries continue to improve their healthcare quality, a study of this nature that sought to examine satisfaction with healthcare services from the perspective of healthcare users cannot be overemphasized, as the findings serve as a benchmark to guide policy decisions in the healthcare sector. This study assessed perception of satisfaction on the quality of decentralised healthcare service delivery from a positivist research orientation. A total of 408 users of healthcare services from 10 districts of Lesotho were selected to respond to a set of questionnaires and a researcher-administered survey developed from the six World Health Organisation–defined dimensions of quality healthcare: safety, equity, acceptability, accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysing the data obtained. The findings of the study revealed mixed feelings among users of healthcare services in Lesotho. For example, healthcare users were generally satisfied with how receptive service providers were to innovative service delivery, honesty, and the overall competence of healthcare service providers. However, significant deficits were observed in treatment safety, record-keeping, equitable geographic service distribution, and timely access. Particularly worrying were concerns about drug administration, rural service equity, and duplication of health procedures. There were no significant differences in the respondents’ satisfaction regarding healthcare services despite variations in their sexual orientation and age distribution. The study highlights the systemic inequalities and inefficiencies that counter the desired objectives of decentralised healthcare and the critical need for participatory health governance, digital health systems, improved communication strategies, health infrastructure investments and adaptive governance frameworks to bridge the disconnect between the lived experiences of healthcare users and decentralised health policy frameworks. The results offer evidence-based insights for healthcare administrators, donors, health communicators and policymakers seeking to enhance equity and quality in healthcare in resource-constrained African settings.

Caregivers play an essential role in the prevention and management of childhood illnesses. The experiences caregivers encounter when utilizing healthcare services for children under-five years of age profoundly influence their propensity to use these services in the future. This paper aims to explore the positive experiences of caregivers utilizing under-five child healthcare services in Vhembe district healthcare facilities. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used for this study. Sixteen caregivers were purposefully sampled, and in-depth individual interviews were conducted. Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis steps were followed to analyze the data. Trustworthiness criteria were observed, and ethical approval was obtained for the study. The findings show that caregivers had positive experiences with the service they received. The care was of good quality, as reflected in timely service provision, availability of medicines, nurses' competence and professionalism, and person-centred care. The healthcare environment was welcoming; communication was effective, and nurses portrayed a positive attitude, resulting in caregivers' satisfaction with the care received. Caregivers felt Supported and empowered as they were involved in childcare. Positive experiences are crucial for the optimal utilization of healthcare services and improved health outcomes. The findings highlight the need to enhance staff competency and professionalism by mandating IMCI training.

As access to healthcare has come under increasing scrutiny, patient waiting times have become crucial. Qualitative research provides an in-depth understanding and reflections of the nurses at Nthabiseng Clinic in Capricorn region, Limpopo Province, South Africa.This article is based on an investigation of patient waiting, which used in-depth semi-structured interviews with five strategically selected healthcare professionals to disentangle the web of different elements that can affect the length of time a patient might wait at the hospital. We identified two superordinate themes that emerged from our thematic analysis. The data analysis identified two key themes that influenced how patient waiting time was related to patients and operational matters during clinic visits: 1) Determinants of patient waiting time at a clinic visit: (i.e. a lack of definitions of patient waiting time; patient waiting time contributing factors; patient waiting time seen through patients; operational challenges regarding patient waiting time); as well as 2) Patient waiting time policy position (i.e. South Africa’s patient waiting time specific policy/ies and/or legislative framework; A clinic’s specific development plan; DOH’s assistance to a clinic). As healthcare systems strive to enhance accessibility and patient experience, this study offers invaluable insights into the multifaceted nature of patient waiting times, paving the way for evidence-based strategies to address this critical issue.

This study seeks to assess patient satisfaction by examining the impact of trust, service quality, and hospital Sharia compliance on patient loyalty at Sharia hospitals in Pekanbaru City, Riau Province. The study takes an Islamic perspective and aims to enhance competitiveness by focusing on the development of high-quality and dependable services. The research uses structural equation modeling, a statistical methodology that combines quantitative data and qualitative causal assumptions to assess and estimate causal links. The study employed a questionnaire to gather primary data from 342 respondents, including patients. The research findings are as follows: (1) Trust has a positive and significant impact on patient loyalty. (2) Service quality does not have a significant impact on patient loyalty. (3) Sharia compliance has a positive and significant impact on patient loyalty. (4) Trust has a positive and significant impact on patient satisfaction. (5) Service quality has a positive and significant impact on satisfaction. (6) Sharia compliance has a positive and significant impact on satisfaction. (7) Satisfaction positively and significantly mediates the effect of trust on loyalty. (8) Satisfaction positively and significantly mediates the influence of service quality on patient loyalty. (9) Satisfaction positively and significantly mediates the influence of Sharia compliance on loyalty. (10) Satisfaction has a positive and significant influence on loyalty.

Revisit intention is a very important topic in a marketing context. However, previous literature is still rarely linked together with trust, satisfaction and two types of service, namely medical and non-medical with the hospital as the subject. Hospitals have the task of providing complete individual health services. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the quality of medical services and the quality of non-medical services on satisfaction, trust and revisit intention on the sub-urban hospitals. This research is a quantitative study using primary data from distributing questionnaires to 250 patients of the sub-urban hospitals. The data in this study were analyzed using the SEM (Structural Equation Model) method with AMOS 24 software. The results of this study indicate that the quality of medical services and the quality of non-medical services have a positive and significant effect on satisfaction. Meanwhile, patient satisfaction has a positive and significant effect on trust and revisit intention. However, trust was found to have a positive but insignificant effect on revisit intention. This research recommends several implications to the management of sub-urban hospitals. The managers of the sub-urban hospital are advised to pay more attention to and emphasize medical services, non-medical services, and patient satisfaction because it has been empirically proven to increase Revisit Intention