Abstract

Background and Aim: Awareness on health rights is an important issue to secure good medical practice especially where health is the most unattended sector in developing countries. We explored the current level of awareness on Health Rights among patients attending a busy tertiary care government hospital in capital of Bangladesh

Methods: Under an analytical cross-sectional design 200 participants (male 126, female 74) were purposively selected. Pre-coded, pre-tested, interview-administered structured questionnaire was used. Demographic data was also assessed along with knowledge and attitude towards Health Rights. Awareness level was graded using the Likert scale.

Result: Largest portion of the study population included service holders (38%) and city dwellers (51%) and crossed primary or secondary level of education (60.5%). Majority (56%) had no perception about health rights with an enormous discrepancy between knowledge and attitude (good knowledge and attitude, 0.5% and 42% respectively). Sequentially, the awareness level was 59% and participants with access to watch television showed maximum level of awareness (13.6%). Level of education (<0.002), income (0.004), place of habitat (<0.001) and media accessibility (<0.034) were related with awareness.

Conclusion: The greater part of the health care seekers was not aware at satisfactory level. Promotional activities on the perception about Health Rights (Patient's Rights) are crucially needed which can be effective especially through Television.

Keywords: Health rights; Safe and continuous health service; Emergency health service; Confidentiality and privacy; Treatment; Health service records; Awareness