What is the difference between comprehensive and selective primary health care? Evidence from a five-year longitudinal realist case study in South Australia

摘要

BackgroundSince the WHO’s Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (PHC) there has been debate about the advisability of adopting comprehensive or selective PHC. Proponents of the latter argue that a more selective approach will enable interim gains while proponents of a comprehensive approach argue that it is needed to address the underlying causes of ill health and improve health outcomes sustainably.