Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities

Abstract

This study was carried out on the factors affecting utilization of health care services using Moro LGA, kwara state as case study. To achieve this 4 research questions were formulated. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of selected residents in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 123 residents while 100 were returned and validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables and percentage. The result of the findings reveals that the extent to which health care services available in Moro LGA, kwara state is low, more so, the factors affecting the utilization of health care services in Moro LGA, kwara state include; poverty, ability and propensity to use services, geographic area of residence race and ethnicity, disability status, poor availability of health care facilities, and long waiting in the health care centres. And inefficient organization of services or work processes; insufficient equipment, supplies, or infrastructure; inadequate staffing; and low health worker motivation/know-do gap are among many others the causes for health facility inefficiencies in Moro LGA, kwara state. In regard to the findings, the study recommends that there is a need to ensure that patients have easy access to health care by ensuring that health personnel are available when needed. Long waiting times should be discouraged by identifying areas in the health care delivery system that is prone to causing long waiting times with a view to developing alternate health systems that will eliminate long hours of stay in public facilities. This can be achieved by involving consumers of health care in government facilities in decision making process to make the facility more customers oriented. Also, periodic evaluation of the quality of care provided by the health facilities should be conducted where clients of the facility are asked to rate the quality of care. And efforts to further upgrade medical equipment and associated workforce skills are needed to sustainably increase access to and utilization. In the same manner, the cost of health care services should be reduced in other for the residents to have access to it as at when needed.

Aims and Objectives
  1. To determine the extent of utilization of primary health care facilities in Nigeria
  2. To examine the factors affecting the utilization of healthcare services in Moro LGA, kwara state.
  3.  Identify the underlying causes for health facility inefficiencies in Moro LGA, kwara state.
  4. To proffer strategies for enhancing the use of PHC services in Moro LGA, kwara state.
Research Questions
  1. To what extent is the utilization of primary health care facilities in Nigeria?
  2. What are the factors affecting the utilization of health care services in Moro LGA, kwara state?
  3. What are the causes for health facility inadequacy in Moro LGA, kwara state?
  4. What are the strategies for enhancing the utilization of Primary Health Care services in Moro LGA, kwara state?
Research Guidelines

The Title Page should be the first section of your project “Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities”, providing essential details like the project title, your name, your supervisor’s name, the institution, and the submission date. After that, the Abstract offers a brief summary of your project, touching on its purpose, methods, results, and conclusions in 150-300 words. The Acknowledgments section is where you can thank those who supported your research, such as your supervisor, peers, or organizations that provided resources.

Next, the Table of Contents organizes the Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities by listing its chapters and sections, along with page numbers for easy reference. The List of Figures and List of Tables help guide readers to specific visual elements like graphs, charts, or tables included in the document. There should also be an Abbreviations and Glossary section to explain any specialized terms or acronyms, making the content clearer to readers unfamiliar with the technical language.

The main body of the Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities should start with the Introduction, which provides background information, outlines the research problem, states your objectives, and gives a brief overview of your research methods. Following that, the Literature Review offers an in-depth look at previous research relevant to your project, identifying gaps your study aims to address. The Methodology section then explains the research design, tools, and data collection methods you used to conduct the project and analyze the data.

In the Results and Discussion section, you present your findings and discuss them in relation to the Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities research questions or objectives, often using tables or charts to help explain the data. The Conclusion summarizes the key results, discusses their implications, and suggests possible directions for future research. You may also include recommendations based on your findings, offering practical advice for improvements or applications. Finally, the Factors Affecting Utilization Of Primary Health Care Facilities project should include a References or Bibliography section to list all the sources you cited, as well as Appendices for any additional material. A Statement of Originality is often included to confirm the authenticity of your work