title: Strengthening primary healthcare through community involvement in Cross River State, Nigeria: a descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In preparation for implementation of primary healthcare (PHC) services in Cross River State, a study to identify perceptions of communities and health systems concerning such interventions was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Existing PHC practices were documented through observation and document reviews, including facility checklists at frontline levels. Perceptions of consumers and providers on PHC were elucidated through 32 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 78 semi-structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was some level of implementation of the Nigerian PHC policy in the study districts. However, this policy emphasized curative instead of preventive services. Private partners perceived healthcare programmes as largely donor driven with poor release of allocations for health by government.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both providers and consumers presented similar perceptions on the current PHC implementation and similar perspectives on services to be prioritized. These common views together with their on-going participatory experience are important platforms for strengthening community participation in the delivery of PHC.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adie
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igbang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akaninyene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otu
authors.affiliation: Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ekanem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Braide
authors.affiliation: Zoology/Environment Biology Department University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okpok
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Okon
authors.affiliation: University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Edet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ikpi
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desousa
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sommerfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Community directed Interventions; Cross River State; Primary Health Care; focus group discussions; key informant interviews