ABSTRACT
The study assessed the factors influencing the utilization of healthcare facilities in Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State. The investigation was based on the use of research survey employing the instrument of questionnaire and observation. The objective of the research was directed to examine the utilization pattern of healthcare facilities in the study area; factors influencing the utilization of the healthcare; perception of the healthcare users towards healthcare delivery services; the quality of the healthcare delivery; the distribution pattern of the healthcare facilities.
The analysis revealed both the presence of informal and formal healthcare facilities services across the study communities that made up the study area. The research observed that the healthcare had limitations in terms of available bed space, limited number of nurses and doctors and inadequate medical equipment. Thus, on the directional pattern of healthcare utilization, the research showed that people tend to patronize medical outlets such as patent medicine store, and pharmaceutical store. The research also observed that people have a regular disposition in utilizing healthcare facilities in in view of seeking medical solution to whatever problem of ailment or serious medical problems they may be confronted with. Also, those in the occupational domain of the self-employed, students and business owners tend to patronize healthcare services more.
On perception with respect to healthcare quality the research revealed an outright disagreement. In other words, majority of the people perceived the quality of healthcare services not good enough. The research observed that the majority of the healthcare facilities in the study area lacked the capacity to admit patients who are in dire need of serious medical attention. The research also revealed that there is shortage of medical personnel such as doctors and nurses based on the perception of the respondents. Based on the frequency of healthcare utilization, the research adduced distance, cost of transportation and household size to be of significant influence.
Thus, the healthcare challenges people were faced with in the study area ranges from high cost of drugs and medical services as well as non-prompt responses to patients by medical personnel. The study revealed a clustering distribution pattern in the location of healthcare facilities in the study area which might not serve the best interest of some people.
