AWARENESS, ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS IN RURAL AREAS

 This study investigated the awareness, access and utilization of Primary Health Care (PHC) information in the PHCs in Rural Areas of North-Western States of Nigeria. Eight (8) research questions were formulated. The research questions sought to find out the: type of PHC information generated by health care practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North-Western States of Nigeria; the extent to which the health practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North Western States are aware of the PHC information they generated; how the primary Health practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North Western Nigeria access the Primary Health Care information generated by the primary health care providers; how the primary health practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North Western Nigeria utilise the primary health care information generated; and the extent to which the primary health practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North-western states of Nigeria are satisfied with primary health care information available in the PHCs in the states? The population of the study consists of all the primary health care practitioners in the PHCs in rural areas of North Western State of Nigeria. Out of the total population of 5,958 health workers, 1,192 (20%) were selected using stratified Random sampling procedure. An open and closed-ended questionnaire was designed and used for data collection. Data that related to the research questions were analysed using frequency tables, pie chart and histogram.

It was discovered that primary health care providers were very much aware of available information on maternal health care, immunization; water borne diseases; endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of diseases and injuries; good health habits; rest; poverty eradication and dental care. Library, Internet, superiors, colleagues, conferences/ workshops/ seminars and meetings were the means through which the primary health care practitioners access information in the PHCs in rural areas of North Western States of Nigeria. The study concluded that Access to reliable PHC information is crucial for progress towards health for all. Since majority of the population lives in rural areas, lack of awareness and access to information can be a barrier to effective dispensation of PHC. It was recommended that PHC management board should be encouraged to establish effective and sustainable PHC information programme. This will enhance location, access and evaluation of PHC information resources in various formats.