Methodological Evaluation of Urban Primary Care Networks in South Africa: Forecasting Clinical Outcomes Using Time-Series Models

Urban primary care networks in South Africa aim to improve health outcomes by providing comprehensive healthcare services accessible to underserved populations. A systematic literature review was conducted, including studies from to the present. Studies were screened based on predefined eligibility criteria, and data synthesis techniques were employed. Time-series forecasting models showed a significant direction in improving patient care outcomes over time (p < 0.05). Urban primary care networks can be effectively managed through evidence-based methods, with potential for reducing healthcare disparities. Further research should focus on validating these findings across diverse urban settings and exploring the long-term sustainability of such models. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.