Adegoke Musa Olatunji

CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA Variables Sub-Variables Frequency Percent Age 15-20 years 31 46.3 21-29 years 23 34.3 30-39 years 5 7.5 40-49 years 8 11.9 Total 67 100.0 Gender Male 46 68.7 Female 21 31.3 Total 67 100.0 Marital Single 42 62.7 Married 15 22.4 Divorced 4 6.0 Widowed 6 9.0 Total 67 100.0 Education No formal education 15 22.4 Primary school 8 11.9 Secondary school 3 4.5 Tertiary education 41 61.2 Total 67 100.0 Unemployed 30 44.8 Occupation Self-employed 25 37.3 Government employee 4 6.0 Private sector employee 8 11.9 Total 67 100.0 Ethnicity Yoruba 46 68.7 Igbo 9 13.4 Hausa 5 7.5 Others 7 10.4 Total 67 100.0 The demographic profile of Ilorin East Local Government Area reveals a predominantly youthful population, with 80.6% aged 29 or younger. Males outnumber females, constituting 68.7% of respondents. The majority (62.7%) are single, while married, divorced, and widowed individuals comprise smaller proportions. Education levels indicate a significant proportion (61.2%) possess tertiary education, contrasting with 22.4% lacking formal education. Occupational distribution shows 44.8% unemployment, countered by 37.3% self-employment. Ethnically, Yoruba dominate (68.7%), followed by Igbo (13.4%), Hausa (7.5%), and minority groups (10.4%). I. Strategic Importance of Local Governments in Primary Health Care Delivery SN Items YES NO 7 Are you aware of the role of local governments in primary health care delivery? - Do you believe that local governments are essential for effective PHC delivery in your community? - In your opinion, has the local government in Ese Odo adequately supported PHC services? - Do involvement of local government ensures accessible PHC services? - Do you think local government policies are effective in enhancing PHC delivery? - The strategic importance of local governments in primary health care delivery is multifaceted. A significant majority, 65.7%, of respondents believe that local governments are essential for effective primary health care delivery in their community ¹. This enthusiasm is tempered by skepticism about the local government's ability to support primary health care services, with only 47.8% believing they have done so adequately ¹. Despite these doubts, 77.6% of respondents think local government involvement ensures accessible primary health care services ¹. Moreover, 64.2% believe local government policies enhance primary health care delivery ¹. These findings underscore the crucial role local governments play in primary health care. Effective primary health care delivery hinges on several factors: Service Delivery: Local governments manage and deliver primary health care services; Accessibility: Their involvement ensures accessible primary health care services; Policy Development: Local government policies enhance primary health care delivery; Community Engagement: Local governments facilitate community engagement, vital for primary health care success. Nigeria's experience with primary health care reforms, such as the Saving One Million Lives initiative and the National Health Act, highlights the challenges and opportunities in leveraging local governments for health care delivery. II. Challenges in Implementing PHC Practices SN Items Yes No 12 Do you believe the health facilities are adequately staffed with qualified personnel? - Are there availability of essential drugs and medical supplies in PHC centers? - Are there financial constraints that limit the implementation of PHC services in your community? - Are there enough health centers and facilities available to meet community health needs? - Are the infrastructures in the PHC centres well equipped and in good condition? - Are health workers in PHC centers adequately motivated and trained? - Are there cultural or societal barriers that affect PHC implementation in your community? - Have you experienced delays in receiving care due to poor management or logistics in PHC centers? - Do you think the PHC services meet the needs of the community adequately? - Are you satisfied with the quality of healthcare provided at the PHC centers? - Are there communication gaps between the community and PHC service providers? - Challenges hinder effective Primary Health Care (PHC) implementation in Ilorin East Local Government Area. Despite efforts, significant gaps persist. Human resource challenges include inadequate staffing (59.7%) and poorly maintained infrastructure (55.2%). Additionally, 34.3% of respondents felt health centers were insufficient. Logistical issues compound these challenges. Financial constraints (68.7%), essential drug shortages (53.7%), and poor management (61.2%) delay care. Cultural barriers (67.2%), inadequate health worker motivation/training (23.9%), and quality concerns (61.2%) exacerbate issues. Communication gaps (52.2%) and unmet community needs (49.3%) further undermine PHC effectiveness. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires comprehensive reforms, improved resource allocation, and enhanced community engagement to strengthen PHC delivery. III. Strategies for Improving PHC Implementation SN Items Yes No 23 Do you think increased funding would improve PHC services in this local government area? - Do you think improved training and motivation of healthcare workers can enhance PHC delivery? - Do you believe involving more stakeholders can lead to better PHC implementation? - Effective Primary Health Care (PHC) transformation requires multifaceted approaches. To strengthen PHC services in Ilorin East Local Government Area, experts recommend allocating additional resources (62.7% support) to enhance infrastructure, equipment and personnel. Enhancing healthcare worker training (73.1% support) upgrades skills, knowledge and motivation. Furthermore, fostering partnerships (41.8% support) among local governments, communities, NGOs and private sectors promotes collaborative governance. Implementing these strategies demands coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare professionals and community leaders. Summary The study revealed a youthful, predominantly male population (68.7%) with 61.2% possessing tertiary education. Primary Health Care (PHC) faces challenges, including inadequate staffing, financial constraints, poor infrastructure, cultural barriers and quality concerns. To address these, respondents recommend increased funding (62.7%), enhanced healthcare worker training (73.1%) and stakeholder engagement (41.8%). The study revealed a youthful, predominantly male population (68.7%) with 61.2% possessing tertiary education. Primary Health Care (PHC) faces challenges, including inadequate staffing, financial constraints, poor infrastructure, cultural barriers and quality concerns. To address these, respondents recommend increased funding (62.7%), enhanced healthcare worker training (73.1%) and stakeholder engagement (41.8%).