IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH (IJSSMR )

E-ISSN 2545-5303
P-ISSN 2695-2203
VOL. 10 NO. 11 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijssmr.v10.no11.2024.pg.74.84

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Determinants of Ward Development Committee Functionality in Primary Health Care Facilities. A Case study of Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo state

Solape Simon Folarin

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Abstract

The significance of community participation in rural health service development is well established, with active involvement being crucial for the success of health programs. Ward Development Committees (WDCs), as outlined in the Ward Health System Operational Guidelines (2004), are expected to play a vital role in identifying and addressing health priorities at the community level. This study evaluates the functionality of WDCs within the primary health care (PHC) system in Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey research design of the ex-post facto type, the study employed purposive sampling to select 240 WDC members and 12 heads of health facilities across the 12 wards in Akinyele LGA. Structured questionnaires, alongside in-depth interviews with selected community members, were used for data collection. The analysis, conducted using descriptive statistics and linear regression at a significance level of P = 0.05, revealed key findings. Among respondents, 50.4% were full residents of the area, while 48.8% were partial residents, with 0.8% being non-residents. The functionality of WDCs was significantly influenced by the identification of health and social needs (F = 7.723, R = .660, R² = .436), environmental factors (F = 160.342, R = .758, R² = .575), and personal factors (F = 7.464, R = .858, R² = .737). The study concludes that active community participation and decision-making can improve WDC functionality and increase the utilization of health facilities. Continuous support and capacity building from local government health departments, state health ministries, and international partner agencies (such as WHO, DFID, and UNICEF) are essential in enhancing the effectiveness of WDCs in the PHC system.

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