THE ROLE OF BASIC HEALTH SERVICES IN ENHANCING SOCIO-ECONOMIC OUTCOMES IN RURAL AREAS

This study investigates primary health care services and socio-economic development programmes in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. The study applies the Participatory Development Theory in identifying the various approaches and strategies employed by the Local government towards primary health care services and socio-economic development programmes. It employs a survey design in two clans of the Local Government Area using a randomly sample of two hundred and ten (210) respondents. Data were elicited using interview schedule and structured questionnaire complemented with the Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The instruments were subjected to reliability and validity test. The simple percentage, and the ordinary least square simple regression technique were used to analyse data with the aid of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SSPS) Version 20.0. The findings showed among others that there were quite a number of strategies/techniques/approaches employed by the local government in primary health care services delivery and socio-economic development programmes. The study recommends the participatory community development approach (PCDA) as a rural/community paradigm that will facilitate socio-economic development and value orientation among the people.