THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111 e-ISSN: 2736-075X
Volume 21, No. 2, November 2023
Pages 98-116
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/3202.12.0260
Assessment of Primary Health care Facilities on readiness for Antenatal Care and Childhood Immunization Services in Zamfara State, Nigeria
1Kabiru Ibrahim Yankuzo
1Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria
Abstract
Effective maternal and child healthcare delivery centers on availability of essential medical equipment, drugs and trained medical personnel in health facilities. Poor funding, inadequate supply of physicians, essential equipment and drugs as well as mismanagement characterized healthcare delivery system in Nigeria. This study assessed public primary health care facilities on readiness of Antenatal Care (ANC) and childhood immunization services in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Based on theoretical orientation of Political Economy of Health Care, quantitative and qualitative data
were used for the study. Descriptive statistic was used for quantitative data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while ATLASti8 software was used for qualitative data. The study found most of the visited health facilities offered various components of ANC and childhood immunisation services but did not comply with the current eight (8) ANC visits as recommended by WHO. Other essential services including hepatitis B tests, breast examination, Fansida for malaria prevention, free folic acid and iron supplements, insecticide treated nets, weight scale, ROTA vaccine and midwives were grossly inadequate in most health facilities. The study also found urban bias in terms of distribution of healthcare staff in Zamfara State. This study recommends that Zamfara State government, non-governmental organisations and donor agencies should urgently channel their efforts to PHC centers and address the challenges confronting primary health care centers in Zamfara State.
Keywords: Assessment, primary health care, antenatal care, childhood immunization, availability of drugs