Table 1

Health professionals' judgement of the role of TCs in various parameters.


Number interviewed
Their role is important
Role more important for maternal care
Provide life saving skills
Alleviate competition for scarce resources
Provide surgical emergency to a vast geographical area
Have a key role in rural hospitals
Replace the medical doctor (surgeon)
Contribute to surgical care provision at 3rd and 4th level

Medical Doctors
31
27
5
3
8

5
6
5
     Provincial Managers
7
7
2

3

1

3
     District Level
12
12
1
2
4

3
3
1
     Specialists in central & prov. hosp.
9
4
1
1
1

1

1
     Specialists in Maputo City
2
2
1




1

     Specialists at Maputo Central Hosp.
2
2





2

MCH Nurses
18
16
7
6
3


3

     District Level
15
13
4
6
3
4

2

     Provincial Managers
3
3
3




1

Chief nurses
5
4

1
1



1
Theatre room team
9
9
1
3
3
4
2


District health directors
8
8
4
2
1
3
2


Total
71
64
17
15
16
11
9
9
6

Note: Given the multiple answers per interviewee, the total answers add more than the number of interviewees.

Cumbi et al. Human Resources for Health 2007 5:27   doi:10.1186/1478-4491-5-27