Sule, S. S.Ijadunola, Kayode T.Onayade, A. A.Fatusi, A. O.Soetan, R. O.Connell, F. A.2025-01-212025-01-212008-04-22Sule, S. S., Ijadunola, K. T., Onayade, A. A., Fatusi, A. O., Soetan, R. O., & Connell, F. A. (2008). Utilization of primary health care facilities: Lessons from a rural community in southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 17(1), 98-106. https://doi.org/10.4314/njm.v17i1.373662667-0526 (eISSN)1115-2613 (print ISSN)https://doi.org/10.4314/njm.v17i1.37366https://repository.elizadeuniversity.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1507This study assessed service/organisational factors and clients' perceptions that influenced utilisation of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in a rural community in Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional household survey in the community as well as key-informant interviews of opinion leaders and health care providers and participant observations of health facilities and utilisation pattern was used to collect data. Results: Forty-four percent of respondents to the survey who were ill in the preceding six months visited a PHC facility for treatment, while others relied on self-medication/self-treatment. Education was positively associated with utilisation of PHC services (P<0.05). Maternal and child health (45.4%), prompt attention (23.0%), and appropriate outpatient (20.5%) services attracted respondents to use PHC services. Poor education about when to seek care, poverty, perceived high cost of PHC services, lack of drugs and basic laboratory services, and a regular physician on site at the facility were identified as barriers to utilisation. Conclusion: We conclude that community perceptions of poor quality and inadequacy of available services was responsible for low use of PHC services.enArticle