Utilization of Primary Health Care Facilities: Lessons from a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria
Niger. j. med. (Online)
; 17(1): 98-106, 2008.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1267235
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
This study assessed service/organisational factors and clients' perceptions that influenced utilisation of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in a rural community in Nigeria.Method:
A cross-sectional household survey in the community as well as key-informant interviews of opinion leaders and health care providers and participant observations of health facilities and utilisation pattern was used to collect data.Results:
Forty-four percent of respondents to the survey who were ill in the preceding six months visited a PHC facility for treatment; while others relied on self-medication/self-treatment. Education was positively associated with utilisation of PHC services (P0.05). Maternal and child health (45.4); prompt attention (23.0); and appropriate outpatient (20.5) services attracted respondents to use PHC services. Poor education about when to seek care; poverty; perceived high cost of PHC services; lack of drugs and basic laboratory services; and a regular physician on site at the facility were identified as barriers to utilisation.Conclusion:
We conclude that community perceptions of poor quality and inadequacy of available services was responsible for low use of PHC services
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Primary Health Care
/
Rural Population
/
Health Facilities
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Niger. j. med. (Online)
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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