Urbanisation and Health Sector Management in Enugu Urban, Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the urbanisation and health sector
management in Enugu Urban, Enugu State Nigeria. The
specific objectives of the study were to: assess the impact
of urbanization on the availability and accessibility of
healthcare services in Enugu Urban, evaluate the effect of
rapid population growth and informal settlements on
public health and disease prevalence in Enugu Urban and
analyze government policies and urban planning
strategies in addressing healthcare infrastructure deficits
in Enugu Urban. The study employed primary and
secondary sources of data. The population of the study was
1,586,200. Freund and Williams (1986) formula was
used to determine the sample size of 369. The collected
data was analyzed through the use of mean score. The t
test analysis technique was applied in testing the
hypotheses. The findings revealed that there is a
significant impact of urbanization on the availability and
accessibility of healthcare services in Enugu Urban, that
rapid population growth and informal settlements have a
significant effect on public health and disease prevalence
in Enugu Urban and that government policies and urban
planning strategies are effective in addressing healthcare
infrastructure deficits in Enugu Urban. The study
concluded that urbanization significantly affects health
sector management in Enugu Urban, leading to increased
demand for healthcare services. Rapid population growth
and informal settlements contribute to poor sanitation,
increased disease prevalence, and pressure on existing
health services. The study recommended that the
government should increase investment in healthcare
infrastructure by expanding hospitals, upgrading existing
facilities, and establishing more primary healthcare
centers in underserved areas. Public-private partnerships
should be strengthened to enhance funding, while medical
equipment and essential drugs should be adequately
supplied to meet the growing healthcare demands of urban
residents.