Determinant and Practice of Referral Services at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State
Authors/Creators
- 1. Department of Geography& Environmental Management, University of Ilorin
- 2. Department of Geography, Kwara State College of Education
- 3. Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano,
- 4. Geographic Information System Unit, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja, Lagos
Description
Access to quality healthcare has been a perennial challenge for residents in many emerging cities in Nigeria. In Delta
State, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, is a tertiary hospital that plays a pivotal role in the city's healthcare
referral system. Ideally, any patient should first seek care from the lower levels of the healthcare system before
presenting at a tertiary facility. This study aimed to determine the institutional and individual factors that influence
patient referrals to FMC, Asaba. The survey included 405 respondents, and proportionate sampling was used to
establish the sample size. A cross-sectional and descriptive approach, employing qualitative and quantitative data
collection methods, was used to explore patterns of patient self-referral. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
was utilized for descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square tests and Logistic Regression, with results
considered significant at a p-value < 0.05. The study revealed that only 27.7% of patients seeking healthcare at the
hospital opted for self-referral to FMC. A significant relationship between gender and the inclination to seek referral
services was observed. Surgical complications (28.6%) emerged as the most common health problems among patients
who self-referred to FMC. Institutional factors influencing patients' choice of FMC, Asaba, included the location and
accessibility of the hospital, availability of medicines and equipment, quality of care, a clean and beautified
environment, and the attitude of medical personnel. Health problems prompting patients to seek services at FMC,
Asaba, often require high-level diagnostic healthcare, which may not be readily available at lower healthcare levels.
The study underscores the need to strengthen and expand primary and secondary level hospitals to mitigate
inappropriate use of tertiary referral hospitals, a trend contributing to congestion.