Health Service Characteristics and Utilization in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined health service characteristics and utilization in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from hospital records and survey of medical services in the selected hospitals. Ownership and Operational performance of these health facilities was determined using the inventory turnover ratio of the hospitals and the data obtained was analyzed using tables, simple percentages and multiple regression analysis. The result showed that 6 hospitals in the area were owned and operated by government, while 6 other hospitals were owned by private individuals or groups. The multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of number of beds to patients, number of doctors to patients and number of nurses/midwives to patients on access to health care facilities. The result indicated that 76% of access to medical facilities was explained by beds/patients ratio (x1), doctors/patients ratio (x2) and nurses/patients ratio (x3). The strength of contribution of each of the independent variables showed that doctors/patient ratio (0.508) made the greatest contribution to utilization of medical services. Next was nurses/patient ratio (0.253) and the least was bed/patients ratio (2.827). The study therefore revealed that bed/patients ratio, doctors/patient ratio and nurses/patient ratio are significant predictors of access to medical facilities. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government and other sponsoring agencies should provide a more robust primary health care system with modern facilities and sufficient medical personnel to guarantee improved accessible health outcomes among the populace.