INFLUENCE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SERVICES ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF RURAL DWELLERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the influence of primary Health Care delivery services on the health status of rural dwellers in Abia State Nigeria. A sample size of 120 respondents selected via multi-stage random sampling technique was used. in selecting .Primary data generated using structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, pooled means, and KAP analysis respectively. Result showed a mean age of 25 years, 58.3% were male, and 75% were married. About 61.0% had secondary education, 58.3% were farmers/traders, and earned mean monthly income of N48, 250.00 and had a mean household size of 4 persons respectively. Majority (50.0%) owed water system toilets, and 58.3% sourced their drinking water from boreholes, 75.0% fed 32 meals/day and 83.3% were not registered with NHIS. Result further showed high (X = 3.03) level of awareness on seven out of eight PHC delivery service packages in the study area. There was also high level of utilization on immunization (X= 3.00) and moderate level of utilization on treatment for malaria, prevention/ treatment of communicable diseases, family planning/ HIV and AIDS, maternal / child health care, public health education and environmental health education respectively. The KAP analysis showed the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Levels of the respondents towards these PHC activities and interventions influenced their health status positively in the study area. The study concluded that PHC delivery services influenced the health status of the rural dwellers positively. It recommends that the Ministries of Health at the three tier levels of government should provide the needed support for enhancing and sustaining the PHC as well as encouraging participation among the rural dwellers mostly in the study area.