Attitudes towards professional health care in greater Bloemfontein

Social inequality is not an abstract phrase "out there" but a reality close to home. The impact of inequality in health care is demonstrated by this study of the greater Bloemfontein area. To reveal perceived inequalities in professional health care (PRHC), an empirical investigation was undertaken into the attitudes of white, coloured and black groups towards its availability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability. The results of this investigation confirm the existence of different attitudes to PRHC in the various communities; stress the significance of variables such as population group, age and employment status in the respondents' attitudes towards PRHC highlight the issues which are particularly relevant to respondents, and emphasise the importance of bringing these issues to the attention of health care policy makers.