Study site

The study was conducted in all the nine (9) sub-counties of Machakos County, namely, Kangundo, Machakos, Athi-River, Yatta, Kathiani, Mwala, Matungulu, Masinga, and Kalama (Figure 1). This study focused on the patients who were booked for specialty clinics (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and paediatric clinics) in Machakos Level 5 Hospital. One health facility (Table 1) either a level 3 or 4 facility was selected for referring the patients who selected the facility as their preferred nearest facility. The recruitment of patients considered all the patients who had scheduled clinics in cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and paediatric clinics from March to May 2020.

Map of Machakos County showing the nine (9) Sub-counties, the selected health facilities, the catchment population, and bed capacity for each health facility.

Selected health facilities at each sub-county in Machakos County, their catchment population, and bed capacity