HEALTH REFORMS AND UNDER-UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IN ABIA STATE AMONG ADOLESCENT

Abstract

The utilization of public healthcare services among adolescents in Nigeria remains critically low despite the
availability of such services in many localities. This study investigated the socioeconomic determinants of low
utilization of public healthcare services among adolescents in Aba South Local Government Area (LGA) of
Abia State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and collected primary
data from 150 respondents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was
used as the primary instrument of data collection, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and
percentages. Findings revealed that household income level, parental educational attainment, health
insurance coverage, proximity to health facilities, cost of healthcare services, and awareness of available
services were major socioeconomic factors significantly influencing healthcare utilization among adolescents
in the study area. Adolescents from low-income households, whose parents had little or no formal education,
and who lived more than five kilometres from public health facilities, were significantly less likely to utilize
public healthcare services. The study concluded that socioeconomic inequalities constitute major barriers to
adolescent healthcare utilization in Aba South LGA and recommended that government should strengthen
health insurance schemes targeting low-income adolescents, improve the distribution and quality of public
health facilities, and intensify health literacy campaigns in schools and communities.