HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION IN NIGERIA
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Date
2024
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Abstract
Health infrastructure remains a critical determinant of healthcare utilization in sub-Saharan
Africa, yet Nigeria continues to face significant infrastructural deficiencies that limit access to
quality healthcare services. This study investigates the effect of health infrastructure on healthcare
utilization in Nigeria, focusing on facility availability, health workforce density, and adequacy of
medical equipment. A mixed-methods approach was adopted using secondary data from the
Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018), National Health Management
Information System (NHMIS), and World Health Organization (WHO) databases, analyzed
through descriptive statistics, multiple regression, binary logistic regression, and GIS mapping
across the six geopolitical zones. The findings reveal that number of health facilities per
population, skilled health worker density, and availability of diagnostic equipment significantly
and positively influence healthcare utilization. Regional disparities were evident, with the SouthWest recording the highest utilization due to better infrastructure, while the North-East and NorthWest exhibited the lowest levels, reflecting severe infrastructural gaps. Proximity to healthcare
facilities and adequate drug supply significantly enhanced the likelihood of healthcare use. The
logistic regression model demonstrated that the presence ofskilled health workers tripled the odds
of facility-based delivery (OR = 3.12, 95% CI: 2.46-3.95), while adequate infrastructure
perception nearly tripled them (OR = 2.87). The study concludes that strengthening health
infrastructure is essential for improving healthcare utilization and reducing regional inequalities
in Nigeria.
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Health infrastructure, Healthcare utilization, Nigeria, Logistic regression, Health workforce, Primary healthcare, Universal Health Coverage.