The Accessibility and Utilization of University Health Care Services among Staffs and Undergraduate Students of University of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background Despite the critical role of knowledge development in tertiary institutions through monitoring and evaluation of health care delivery, many Nigerian universities, including the University of Lagos, conduct little or no research on health care service consumption. This study investigated how accessible health services are at the University of Lagos Health Centre, with the intention that the findings may assist the institution's health services management in improving health care planning, organization, and delivery. Methods The non-experimental research design was used in this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a quantitative technique was used with a questionnaire as the study instrument. The location was the University of Lagos. The study population for this study were the staffs (both academic and non-academic) and undergraduate students in the University of Lagos, Akoka campus. A total number of 300 sample size was considered for this study. The multi-stage sampling involving snowballing and purposive sampling technique was applied to this study. To construct univariate and bivariate tables, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) computer software was utilized. The Chi-square test was performed at the 0.05 level of significance. Results The study indicated that a significant majority of respondents have experienced difficulties in accessing the UHC (95.31%), while a very small percentage have not (4.69%). The study indicated that relationship exists between user’s status and the quality of services they are provided by the Unilag health center because P value is > 0.005. Also, the chi-square calculated indicated that a relationship exists between utilization and satisfaction with quality of services provided by the Unilag health center. Conclusion Overall, this study's comprehensive exploration provided insights that extend beyond the surface, shedding light on the intricate interplay between socio-economic factors, healthcare experiences, and perceptions within a university setting. It serves as a valuable foundation for addressing existing challenges and enhancing the overall well-being of the university community through improved healthcare services and communication strategies.