Social-Economic and Cultural Barriers and Primary Health Care Service Delivery in Rural Communities in Abuja, Nigeria

The study investigates the extent to which socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the communities constitute barriers to the primary health care services delivery in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional field survey was utilized. Primary data were utilized and exploratory analysis was used. ANOVA and t-Test were used as tools of analysis to bring out statistical differences in the perception of the respondents regarding the subject matter understudy. The inhibiting factors to primary health service delivery and utilization related to socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the users of the services found among others in rural communities of Abuja were: users perceived it that treatment received locally from traditional sources are cheaper than the PHC services, prevailing insufficient means of transportation, lack of assertive or esteem spirit by the users of the services etc. In view of the findings, the study recommends inter-alia; location of health centres in catchment areas to all members of the communities to reduce cost of transportation, scaling up awareness campaign in the communities through the use of health helpers or aids appointed from the community to sensitize the communities on the usefulness of the PHC service over the traditional healing methods.