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. 2014 Mar 21:17:221.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.17.221.2504. eCollection 2014.

Strengthening primary healthcare through community involvement in Cross River State, Nigeria: a descriptive study

Hilary Adie  1 , Thomas Igbang  1 , Akaninyene Otu  2 , Ekanem Braide  3 , Okpok Okon  4 , Edet Ikpi  5 , Charles Joseph  6 , Alexander Desousa  7 , Johannes Sommerfeld  7
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Strengthening primary healthcare through community involvement in Cross River State, Nigeria: a descriptive study

Hilary Adie et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: In preparation for implementation of primary healthcare (PHC) services in Cross River State, a study to identify perceptions of communities and health systems concerning such interventions was conducted.

Methods: Existing PHC practices were documented through observation and document reviews, including facility checklists at frontline levels. Perceptions of consumers and providers on PHC were elucidated through 32 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 78 semi-structured questionnaires.

Results: There was some level of implementation of the Nigerian PHC policy in the study districts. However, this policy emphasized curative instead of preventive services. Private partners perceived healthcare programmes as largely donor driven with poor release of allocations for health by government.

Conclusion: Both providers and consumers presented similar perceptions on the current PHC implementation and similar perspectives on services to be prioritized. These common views together with their on-going participatory experience are important platforms for strengthening community participation in the delivery of PHC.

Keywords: Community directed Interventions; Cross River State; Primary Health Care; focus group discussions; key informant interviews.

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References

    1. World Health Organisation. APOC, Primary Health Care delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa; 2007. p. 3. Potential of community directed interventions to strengthen health systems.
    1. National Strategic Health and Development Plan. Expert Review Meeting; 2010.
    1. United Nations Children's Fund. Statistics at a glance: Nigeria. [Online].[Accessed 22 December 2012]. Available from: www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nigeria_statistics.html.
    1. World Health Organisation. WHO/TDR Cross River Report on improving Primary Health Care in Selected Health Care Settings in Rural Africa Using CDI; 2010. Researchers’ Notes, key informant interview responses, documents review and focal group discussions.
    1. World Health Organisation. Primary Health Care (Now more than Ever); 2008. pp. 85–89. The World Health Report.

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