Capacity of Primary Health Care (PHC) Facilities regarding the Use of Basic Health Care Provision Fund in Kano State: PHC Workers Perspective

Abstract

Background: The BHCPF is a direct financial investment that funds essential upgrades for PHC infrastructure. It increases the availability of skilled staff and ensures adequate stock of medicines and health commodities through purchasing a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) at no cost to Nigerians from PHC providers. BHCPF funds are allocated to the selected PHC facilities to improve their standard in Kano state. The study aims to assess the influence of the BHCPF project in improving the performance (quality healthcare service) of PHC facilities in Kano state. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among PHC workers in 100 PHC facilities randomly selected out of the 484 PHC facilities designated for implementing the BHCPF project in Kano state. We chose a sample size of 200 respondents to respond to a survey questionnaire in a google form, and 196 were returned. The questionnaire consists of 4 sections (section A – socio-demographic, B – knowledge of PHC workers on BHCPF, C – capacity of the PHCs, D – challenges of BHCPF in PHCs). In addition, Chi-square was used to show an association between factors and BHCPF in Kano state. Result: The findings showed that the PHC workers are knowledgeable in the BHCPF project, the PHC facilities can utilize the BHCPF funds, and the challenges identified were insufficiently skilled health professionals to carry out this project efficiently, lack of proper data management community participation and awareness of the project is extremely low, delay in releasing the funds, poor condition of infrastructure weak financial management and accountability system, etc. Conclusion: The study suggests a need for retraining health workers; creating more community awareness on the project is essential and how they can benefit from the funds to have good healthcare services, setting strategies to sustain the project after five years.