Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 3, No. 1, 2005
Pages 29-40
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/5002.30.0130
Prices, Quality, and Demand for Modern Health Care Facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria
Folasade Oluwatomi Ayonrinde
National Ceture for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA), Ibadan
Abstract
The study assessed the impact of user fees on demand for health care facilities, and examined the relationship between quality of service and utilization of modern health facilities in the country. The data were collected from 388 individuals ill 1999 from the five health zones ill Oyo State. To analyse the determinants of health facility utilization, information was elicited on individuals’ choice of health care Treatment. Using the Multinomial logit model and analysing with the revealed preference principle that permits the nature of consumers’ preferences to be deduced from observed choices, the results revealed user fees, gender, and distance as significant determinants of demand for health facilities and indicated the clear preference of respondents for private health care providers over public health providers. The policy implications emanating from the study suggest that the distance of public health facilities from patients and waiting Time need to be reduced to increase the rate of utilization. This call be done by government providing more health facilities in all local government areas and these should be within the reach of household members.
Keywords: health care user Ice, choice for medical treatment, multinomial logit, drug availability