PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN PROMOTING PEACE AND WELLNESS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN IBADAN METROPOLIS

Abstract

Primary Health Care does not only function to provide adequate and timely health care but, also promotes peace and wellness among members of the community. This study therefore examined the state of Primary Health Care in promoting peace and wellness among women of childbearing age in Ibadan Metropolis so as to give up to date recommendations. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study. Population for the study comprised all women of child bearing age in Ibadan Metropolis while Multi- stage sampling procedure was used to select sample of 240 respondents. Self-structured validated questionnaire was used for data collection which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.68. One research question and two hypotheses were raised and tested using Correlation matrix and regression analysis. Result of the question revealed that public health education (r=0.416, N=240, p<0.05), routine immunization (r=0.486, N=240, p<0.05), environmental health (r=0. 612, N=240, p<0.05) and essential drug supply (r=0.730, N=240, p<0.05) were positively correlated with promotion of peace and wellness among women of child bearing age in Ibadan Metropolis. The findings showed that the two hypotheses were significant as follows: The linear combination of the effect of primary health care delivery services’ components was tested significant on promotion of peace and wellness (F(4,235)=97.409, p<0.05). The result yielded a coefficient of multiple regression of R=0.790 and multiple R-square of 0.624. The result also revealed that Adjusted R2=0.617; indicating that about 61.7% of variance was accounted for by the independent variables components. The unstandardized regression weight (ß), the standardized error of estimate (SEß), the standardized coefficient, the t-ratio and the level at which the t-ratio are significant. As indicated in the table, Public health education (ß=0. 236, t=5.361, p<0.05), environmental health (ß=0. 237, t=4.305, p<0.05) and essential drug supply (ß=0. 475, t=8.286, p<0.05) were tested significant on promotion of peace and wellness among women of child bearing age in Ibadan Metropolis, while routine immunization (ß=0. 070, t=1.432, p<0.05) did not. Based on the findings that primary health care services promote peace and wellness among the people in the community, it was recommended that. government at all levels should finance and equipped the primary health care services to enable it carried out effectively its components function so as to continue promoting the peace and wellness of the people in the community.