Author: S. Akinmayowa Lawal, Joseph Barry and Femi Omololu
Volume: 60 Issue No:1 Year:2018
Abstract: In Nigeria multiple forms of health care delivery are widely available to people, making health care increasingly complex. As the population of the country continues to grow, the provision of effective health services has remained a challenge causing low performance in service delivery in the entire health system. This study examined the nature of health care delivery in emerging communities of southwest Nigeria. A survey, comprised of 405 households was conducted across Magboro, Ibafo and Mowe communities of Ogun state. The study found that, as complex as the healthcare delivery system is in Nigeria, the communities exhibited much wider complexities, as multiple forms of treatment options were practised. These ranged from self-medication to group-prescribed medication (GPM) in the form of household-prescribed medication, neigbour-prescribed medication, and community-prescribed medication. The combined use of orthodox and traditional medicine remained high at 32.7% despite the high preference for orthodox medicine (59.2%) over traditional medicine (8.1%). There was significant difference (p-value=0.003)across the communities on the various types of health facilities (X2=19.652); but there was no significant difference (p-value=0.586) across communities on the practice of self-medication, household-prescribed medication, neigbour-prescribed medication and community-prescribed medication (X2=4.672). The study recommended increased health education and advocacy to educate people on their health and treatment options.