An inter-country comparison of unofficial payments: results of a health sector social audit in the Baltic States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cross-country comparisons of unofficial payments in the health sector are sparse. In 2002 we conducted a social audit of the health sector of the three Baltic States.

Methods

Some 10,320 household interviews from a stratified, last-stage-random, sample of 30 clusters per country, together with institutional reviews, produced preliminary results. Separate focus groups of service users, nurses and doctors interpreted these findings. Stakeholder workshops in each country discussed the survey and focus group results.

Results

Nearly one half of the respondents did not consider unofficial payments to health workers to be corruption, yet one half (Estonia 43%, Latvia 45%, Lithuania 64%) thought the level of corruption in government health services was high. Very f

SUBMITTER: Cockcroft A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2233619 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature