Abstract

The study examined rural health care problem and management in Nigeria with a focus on Delta State. The study adopts literature search and a survey design; questionnaires were administered to fifty two health establishments, 2 to each local government area. 26 general hospitals are located in urban areas and another 26  medical health centres located in the rural communities, but with the shortest distant from the general hospitals selected in each LGA of Delta State. The data were presented in tables and analysed with multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that the health care services in Nigeria are operating at a dismal level, which is predicated on inadequate skilled human resources/personnel, poor funding from local government, corruption, lack of commitment by the local authorities, far distance, climate, self interest, lack of information and health services. These factors correlated (0.89) significantly with health problems at p<0.05. Also most of the hospitals visited lack basic modern health facilities. The implication of this, is that it has led to the abysmal poor quality of health care services in the various hospitals and health centers in the state and consequently in Nigeria. As such the study recommends that the Federal, State and Local Government in Nigeria should live up to their responsibility of meeting the basic health care needs of Nigerian by equipping the health establishments with the requisite personnel/facilities as recommended by WHO and the 2004 Health Review Policy of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Key words: Rural, health, care, problem, Nigeria.