PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CROSS-BORDER PATIENT MOBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ON THE NIGERIA-CAMEROON BORDER, BAMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BORNO STATE

Abstract

This research was carried out retrospectively on the Nigerian – Cameroon border. There are so many communities that live on this border. It was stated in the Border Community Development Agency Act (2003) that Bama Local Government area has 120 identified border communities. These populations therefore need to have access to healthcare facilities on either side of the boundary as they interact in different ways, which expose them to infections, contagious and other socially transmittable diseases. Cross-border healthcare access is therefore relevant to people living on the border. This study examines the extent of cross-border patient mobility and healthcare utilization in the three districts (Banki, Dare-el-jamal and Kumshe) on the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The researchers used mix methods research design. Survey was conducted supplemented by qualitative method which enables the researchers to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. The researchers and two trained research assistants went to the two camps that host internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Bama local government area (Dalori camp I and II) and identified 625 cross-border patients that come from Banki, Dare-el-jamal and Kumshe districts. This served as the sample population for the research and 40% of the population was selected as sample respondents by random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tools were used to interpret the data acquired i.e percentages and Chi-square at P≤0.05 was used to test whether cross-border healthcare utilization in the study area was gender sensitive. Distance decay curves were also used to measure the impact of distance on the level of patronage of healthcare facilities across the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The study revealed that there were established health centres in the three districts but were poorly equipped and that more Nigerians patronize the healthcare facilities across the border where 65.5% of the respondents indicated that more Nigerians sought treatment in Cameroon.