Assessment of resources for primary health care: Implications for the revitalization of primary health care in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Primary health care (PHC) is the cornerstone of the Nigerian National Health Policy. The national policy on PHC under one roof is undergoing implementation nationwide as a means of strengthening the PHC system. Akwa Ibom State (AKS) is set to commence full implementation of the policy. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the existing human resource and infrastructure in PHC facilities in AKS. Settings and Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 18 facilities selected from the three senatorial zones of AKS, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A rapid assessment of selected PHC facilities based on a checklist adapted from the minimum standards for PHC as provided by the National PHC Development Agency. The results were analyzed using Excel and presented in tables. Results: A total of 18 health facilities were included in the study. Human resources available were 276 full time core health workers, of which 48 (17.4%) were volunteer workers. There was inequitable distribution in district and facility type as 122(44.2%) work in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district and 242 (87.7%) of them work in the Operational Base. Basic lifesaving equipment such as resuscitation sets was unavailable in more than 50% of the health facilities. Conclusions: There are absolute deficit and inequitable distribution of available human resources in AKS PHCs. Basic-lifesaving equipment is grossly inadequate. There is an urgent need for more health workers to be employed and provision of basic equipment for the PHCs.

Human resource and governance challenges in the delivery of primary eye care: a mixed methods feasibility study in Nigeria

“…They are university graduates, with or without relevant healthcare qualifications, who are paid to do community service for two years to reduce graduate unemployment and address deficiencies in public services (the N-power scheme) [ 37 ]. Our findings on the use of volunteers are similar to those in PHCs in Akwa Ibom state in South-south zone of Nigeria where 17.4% of the clinical staff were trained CHEWs who were informally employed as volunteers [ 38 ]. A challenge of relying on volunteers with basic training is that it is associated with dysfunctional health systems [ 39 ].…”

Determinants of care-seeking behaviour for fever, acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea among children under five in Nigeria

“…Use of antenatal care and facility deliveries is much lower in Nigeria than other sub-Saharan African countries, highlighting a broader need to improve perceptions of and willingness to use the healthcare system throughout the life course. Quality improvement interventions and health system strengthening must go hand in hand with education efforts to ensure that children brought to facilities receive high-quality care, and enable a reduction in child mortality [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey of the Recommended Infant Feeding Guidelines for HIV Positive Mothers by Primary Health Care Workers in Uyo, Nigeria

“…There was also a relative lack of experience among the health workers as the average duration of practice was only 4 years. The grossly inadequate number of staff at the PHCs falls short of the recommended staff number and cadre of 24 workers for PHCs comprising 19 core staff and 5 support staff [25] Hence most PHCs in Nigeria lack the capacity to provide essential health care services due to poor staffing, inequitable distribution of health workers and inadequate equipment [26,27]. This could also negatively affect the task shifting and sharing policy of the WHO adopted and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health to address to address human resource shortages that militate against the provision of critical services including HIV services [28].…”