Cultural Determinants Of Primary Healthcare Utilization Among Rural People Of Konshisha Local Government Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined the cultural determinants of healthcare utilization among rural people of Konshisha LGA, Benue State, Nigeria. Health, it is argued, is a fundamental and basic need of the people globally. However, in most African societies, access to healthcare services is determined and infringed by the cultural aspect of each belief and practices. The study adopted a Three Delay Model framework (3DM), propounded by Thaddeus and Maine in 1994. The study employed cross sectional survey design, a total of 400 respondents were selected from five (5) council wards. The study used mixed method approach which is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Data collected through qualitative method was analyzed using manual content. Hypotheses was tested using Pearson Moment Correlation. The study confirmed that one of the key factor that hinders the utilization of healthcare services in Konshisha LGA is cultural beliefs and disease perception. The study concluded that, good health is a basic necessity among rural people and it is a fundamental objective of social and economic development. However, cultural beliefs among the rural people has limited the utilization of Primary Healthcare services. The study recommended that an educative sensitization campaign by govt. is paramount to change the people`s long held belief and tradition on 
healthcare utilization. Similarly, the misconception and the value systems embeds in the people’s culture and their conservativeness to the utilization of primary healthcare services needs to be modified through policy intervention for the wellbeing of the general public and improved life expectancy