RESUMO
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 (P<0.05). 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.
Assuntos
Atitude Frente a Saúde , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Atenção Primária à Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços de Saúde Rural/estatística & dados numéricos , Percepção Social , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Proteção da Criança , Serviços de Saúde Comunitária/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos Transversais , Escolaridade , Feminino , Pesquisas sobre Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Bem-Estar Materno , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nigéria , Gravidez , Atenção Primária à Saúde/normas , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Serviços de Saúde Rural/normas , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
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
