Kurfi Abubakar Muhammed|Kalu Nnena Umeh|S. Nasir|Idris Suleiman
Understanding the barriers to the utilization of primary health care in a low-income setting: implications for health policy and planning
National Health Insurance Fund|Ahmadu Bello University|Ahmadu Bello University
essence primary health care provision essential health services commodities individuals communities using available acceptable sustainable resources however growing lack confidence populace evidenced poor utilization services study sought identify predominant barriers affecting utilization primary health care services batsari local government katsina state nigeria cluster 630 households surveyed catchment 21 health primary health facilities catchment defined household located within 5 km primary health center using three digit randomly generated numbers household selected selected start house twentynine contiguous houses visited total 630 households surveyed households questions asked predominant health problems well major determinants access utilization primary health care services results computed analyzed using statistical package social sciences software spss version 170 findings respondents n630 showed majority people preferred seek care patent medicine stores 5363 76 utilized primary health care services commonest reasons respondents utilize services lack essential drugs high cost services well inadequate infrastructure primary healthcare facilities study highlighted multiple factors affecting utilization primary healthcare services expected findings guide policy makers improving healthcare delivery particularly need greatest grassroots line national health policy national health strategic development plan