Experiences of nurses on the critical shortage of medical equipment at a rural district hospital in South Africa: a qualitative study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: medical equipment is an essential health intervention tool used by nurses for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and for rehabilitation of patients. However, access to functioning medical equipment is a challenge in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization estimated that 50 to 80 percent of medical equipment in developing countries is not working, creating a barrier to the ability of the health system to deliver health services to patients. This study explored and described the lived experiences of nurses working at a district hospital with a critical shortage of medical equipment.

Keywords

• critical equipment shortage
• district hospital
• experiences