THE STATUS OF DELIVERY OF HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES IN OYO STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Health Education is generally accepted as a major tool for promoting the delivery of Primary Health Care (PHC) services in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. Although previous reports have shown that the organization and delivery of health education services at the local level are weak, the nature and extent of these problems have not been documented especially from the viewpoint of the health workers involved. This study therefore sought to determine the status and perceptions of health education services at the LGAs level in Oyo State. This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted in all the 33 LGAs in Oyo State. In each LGA, the Primary Health Care Coordinator and the Health Educator or a person designated as such, making a total of 66 respondents, were interviewed using pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires. In addition, observation and documentation checklists were used to assess the health education resources. The researcher personally administered all research instruments. The results showed that less than half, 14(42.2%) of the LGAs had Health Education Unit, Four LGAs allocated office space to their HEUs, while the remaining ten operated from their health facilities. Only 13(39.4%) LGAs had trained health educators, whose professional qualifications included either Advanced Diploma in Health Education, 4(12.1%) or Bachelors degree in Health Education 9(273%). Among the trained health educators only those with Advanced Diploma in Health Education, 4(12.1%), could be described as professional public health educators. None of the LGAs had a health education policy document or a job description for health educators. Thirty-two (96.9%) of the LGAs had no health education work plan. while 27(81.8%) had persons specifically designated as health educators. The remaining LGAs had neither HEUs nor health educators. The prevailing perception in 19 out of the 33 LGAs without HEUs was that every health worker is a health educator. Concerning financing., only 10(30.3%) LGAs had budgetary allocation for health education, while an impress account was kept for health education activities in 5(15.2%) LGAs. In 32(96.9%) LGAs there were no means of transportation to conduct health education activities. Scanty health education materials were found in only 6(18.2%) LGAs. The factors that motivate the health educators in the performance of their duties include encouragements from the community. 1.2(36.3%), and personal interest, 9(27.2%). while barrier factors were listed as lack of qualified personnel, 20(604%); lack of fund, 19(57.5%); lack of educational materials, 16(48.4%) and policy makers’ failure to release the funds allocated for the provision of health education services, 10(30.3%). Due to the gross lack of basic infrastructures for the delivery of health education services in most LGAs and the fact that only an insignificant proportion of the health educators are trained, it could be concluded that the status of health education practice at the local level in Oyo Slate is unacceptably low and that health education not accorded the priority it deserves within the context of PHC at the LGA level in 0yo State. An advocacy programme targeted at policy makers to make them appreciate the value of health education as the pivot on which the successful implementation of PHC rests is recommended. Professional health educators can also promote health education by demonstrating the efficacy of the health education component of PHC services.