The Demographic Factor in the Provision of Health Facilities in Developing Countries: the Case of Nigeria

Current emphasis on preventive health measures in developing countries such as Nigeria is not often reflected in actual performance of health programmes. It is still common to find that a major proportion of the health budget is expended on the construction of modern hospitals in a few privileged areas such as the major towns and urban centres. This strategy of medical care delivery continues in spite of the demographic situation which makes it virtually impossible for any developing nation to aim at providing adequate hospital-based care for its growing and basically rural population. Therefore, it is being suggested that the existing practice of medical care planning which places an undue emphasis on hospital based care is too expensive and will have to give way to less expensive and comprehensive strategies involving community participation such as health education, nutritional improvement programmes and more reliance on local medical resources.