CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Health to every nation is as important as the economy of the nation; this is because the health of every nation is her wealth. A healthy workforce would replicate in its output in its productivity, Nigeria being one of the developing nations cannot be an exception.
HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, under-5 mortality, malaria, and tuberculosis have undermined development and impoverished West African developing countries such as Nigeria. Nonetheless, it has been enunciated that the pursuit of better health care system should not be a problem for an improved economy.The way a country runs its health care system is a key prerequisite to the health of its citizenry.Selection of an adequate and efficient method of health care cost from birth to death is essential if a country is set to achieve its national health objective of providing health for all.
A health care cost from birth to death system involves the means in which health costs are computed and analyzed. In fact, most health centers, hospitals or health research organizations in Nigeria place little or no emphasis on the cost of health care.An effective and efficient record keeping of health care cost from birth to death by hospitals and research centers would be of immense benefit both to the citizenry and her government.
- Statement of the general problem
The lack of proper documentation of health care cost from birth to death has been a major problem confronting our socio economic development and most importantly our health sector. Inadequate planning has been a re occurring decimal in our health sector.The in ability of government to structure a far reaching health policy for its citizenry has been as a result of lack of proper documentation of health care cost from birth to death
- Objectives of the study
The following are the aims and objectives of this study
- To analyze the health care cost from birth to death
- To know if health care is readily available for Nigerians.
- To examine the quality of health care received by Nigerians.
- To examine the quality of Nigerian health care delivery centers.
- To recommend ways of improving health care delivery.
- Research Questions
- Is health care readily available for Nigerians?
- What is the quality of health care received by Nigerians?
- Is quality health care costly for Nigerians?
- What is the state of Nigerians health care centers?
- Research Hypothesis
H0: Health care cost from birth to death does not significantly affect the health sector.
H1: Health care cost from birth to death significantly affects the health sector.
- Significance of the study
This study would help the government in knowing the through condition of our health care centers. It would also help the government in their health care policy formation.
- Scope of the study
This study is on the analysis of health care cost from birth to death with the federal medical center owerri serving as the case study.
Limitation of the study
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
- Definition of terms
- HEALTH CARE:the maintaining and restoration of health by the treatment and prevention of disease especially by trained and licensed professionals (as in medicine, dentistry, clinical psychology, and public health)
- SECTOR:An area or portion that is distinct from others.
- POLICY:a set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party
REFERENCE
Atun RA, Fitzpatrick S. Advancing Economic Growth: Investing in Health. A summary of the issues discussed at a Chatham House conference held on 22-23 June 2005.[Online]. Available from: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/3312_investhealth.pdf. [Accessed 2011 Apr 24]
Alsan M, Bloom DE, Canning D.The effect of population health on foreign direct investment inflows to low- and middle-income countries. World Dev 2006;34:613-30.
Carrin G, Evans D, Xu k. Designing health financing policy towards universal coverage. Bull World Health Organ 2007;85:652. 
[PUBMED]
Drouin A. Methods of financing health care: A rational use of financing mechanisms to achieve universal coverage. Technical report 05.International Social Security Association; 2008.
Gottret P, Schieber G. Health Financing Revisited: A Practioner′s Guide. Washington DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank; 2006.
Drechsler D, Jütting J. Private Health Insurance in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Scope, Limitations, and Policy Responses. Issy-les Moulineaux: OECD Development Centre; 2005.
Palmer N, Mueller DH, Gilson L, Mills A, Haines A. Health financing to promote access in low income settings - How much do we know? Lancet 2004;364:1365-70.
World Health Organization. Country Cooperation Strategy: Federal Republic of Nigeria 2002-2007. Brazzaville: World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa.[Online]. Available from: http://www.who.int/countries/nga/about/ccs_strategy02_07.pdf[Accessed 2011 Apr 24].
World Bank.Improving Primary Health Care Delivery in Nigeria Evidence from Four States.Working paper No 187. Washington DC: World Bank; 2010.
World Health Oranization. WHO Country Cooperation Strategy: Nigeria 2008-2013. Brazzaville: WHO Regional office for Africa; 2009.
Soyinbo A. National Health Accounts of Nigeria 1999-2002. Final report submitted to World Health Organization. Ibadan: University of Ibadan; 2005.