Access and Utilization of Primary Health Care Facilities on Infant Mortality Rates in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study analyzed access and utilization of primary health care facilities on infant mortality rates in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted to select 360 rural household women. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that the rural communities with PHC-facilities recorded high accessibility and utilization of PHC services (Accessibility grand mean = 2.43; accessibility index = 81%; and utilization grand mean = 2.41; utilization index 80%) The PHC services were lowly accessed and utilized by rural communities without facilities (Accessibility grand mean = 1.47; index 49%; utilization grand mean = 1.46; index = 48%). Percentage change in IMR revealed a reduction of IMR at -72.5% for rural communities with facilities, while those without PHC facilities increased at 23.44%. Difference in difference estimates between the two categories of rural communities was -15.30. Which indicates that PHC services impact on the rural communities IMR. Paired t-test analysis revealed significant difference between their means IMR (t-cal = 3.19; P<0.05). The study concluded that PHC facilities impact positively on rural communities IMR. It is recommended that more PHC facilities be established in rural communities.