Challenges in the Utilisation of Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria: Effect of Social Workers and Social Support Services, Education Attainment and Income-Expenditure

Abstract

The study sought to explore the challenges of healthcare utilisation in Nigeria and the role of social workers in advancing appropriate healthcare utilisation tendency cum propensity in Nigeria. Secondary data were used for the study. Amongst other factors, finance, health insurance coverage structural limitations which has failed to align system structures and processes to the goal of achieving universal health access and utilisation is limiting medical social-workers positive contributions. Thus, the achievement of increased healthcare utilisation for, holistic and sustainable health status that is efficient, acceptable to the people, of high-quality and therefore capable of driving growth and development for the health system and the country is lagging. Following, government needs to drive non-differential tendency for healthcare utilisation by providing strategic healthcare-, social work-, education-frameworks and investments specific to, micro-populations, sex, age, disability status among others. In addition, all health professionals, including medical social workers, should imbibe the values/ethics of expert medical service