How much of the much Professed Primary Health Care is Practiced?

Abstract

A cross sectional study consisting of visitation, schedule interview administration and on the spot assessment of the facilities and activities of sixteen (16) of the twenty one (21) Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in one local government area of Western Nigeria was conducted. Six (6) of the Health Centres buildings needed renovation. Three (3) Health Clinics had no satisfactory water supply and four (4), no acceptable toilets. The available spaces for waiting and clinic activities were inadequate in five (5) of the sixteen (16) Health Centres. The bigger National Model and seven (7) Primary Health Centres (category 1 centres) were 2.3 times as well staffed as the smaller eight (8) Health Clinics (Health Posts) - category 2 centres. Services for family planning, weight monitoring for children after infancy and food demonstration were not available in more of the smaller than the bigger centres. The mean overall numbers of patients and clients seen per centre in one month were 334.6 for the bigger category 1 compared with 207.1 for the 8 smaller category 2 centres. Many Centres lacked essential equipments and drugs like ambubags. suction devices, anti tetanus serum, antimicrobial and effective anti malaria drugs. Record keeping was generally unsatisfactory. In view of the low level of health activities and the deficiencies found which may be common to many Nigeria PHCs, it is suggested that the facilities and functioning of PHCs be reviewed and that the deficiencies found be rectified so that PHCs can be repositioned for optimum performance along the goals set at Alma Ata.

Keywords: Primary Health Care Practice in Nigeria