Perceived Factor Responsible for Low Patronage of Patients in General Hospital Bolorunduro, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Health service provider's ability to render quality services to the customers in a manner desired by them increases patronage of such health institutions. Aim: This study determines the perceived factor responsible for the low patronage of patients in General Hospital Bolorunduro. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted, and random sampling was used to select 360 eligible respondents for the study. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from the respondents while the analysis was done with SPSS version 27 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Ethical clearance was obtained from the ethical committee of General Hospital Bolorunduro with reference no: GBH/G/2023/02. Results: Findings it was revealed that there is a significant relationship between the perception and health facility factors that may be responsible for the low patronage of patients in General Hospital Bolorunduro (P≥0.000). Also, there is a significant relationship between the perception and household facility factors that may be responsible for the low patronage of patients in General Hospital Bolorunduro (P≥0.001). Findings from the study revealed that the majority of respondents were between 21-40 years, married, Yoruba dominant and Christians. Users had a good perception of the services they received and are reasonably satisfied but certain deficiencies in the healthcare systems compromised the quality of service. Several factors were however hindering the utilization of these services and these include mainly institutional factors such as lack of infrastructure, equipment and staffing constraints; household factors such as cost of service were revealed as the perceived factors. Conclusion: Users had a poor perception of the services they received and some identified deficiencies in the health care systems compromised the quality of service. It is therefore recommended that fundamental deficiencies that constitute barriers to patronage be urgently addressed to improve the care provided at this health facility to ensure utilization and improved quality of service.