Socio-demographic factors affecting access to and utilization of social welfare services in Nigeria

John Thompson Okpa, Bassey Ballantyne Ikpeme, Nwosu Uchechukwu Wilson, Ude Bassey Obeten, Ngozi Christiana Nwadike

Article ID: 1448
Vol 6, Issue 2, 2022

VIEWS - 811 (Abstract) 467 (PDF)

Abstract


The study examined the socio-demographic factors affecting access to and utilization of social welfare services in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted to select 570 respondents from the study area. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were adopted in the selection of communities, and respondents. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages, while chi-square statistic was used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and access to and utilization of social welfare services. The qualitative data were analyzed in themes as a complement to the quantitative data. This study reveals that although all the respondents reported knowing available social welfare services, 44.3% reported not having access to existing social services due to factors connected to serendipity variables, such as terrain condition, ethnicity and knowing someone in government. Therefore, the study recommends that the government and other stakeholders should push for the massive delivery of much-needed social welfare services to address the issue of welfare service deficit across the nation, irrespective of the ethnic group and whether the community is connected to the government of the day or not, primarily in rural areas.


Keywords


access; utilization; social welfare services; socio-economic; age; place of residence; Nigeria

Full Text:

PDF


References


Abdulraheem AF, Odubo TR and Olalekan RM (2019). “A study of the context of adolescent substance use and patterns of use in Yenagoa Local Government, Bayelsa State, Nigeria”. MOJ Addiction Medicine and Therapy, 6(1): 25–32. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojamt.2019.06.00142

Abdulraheem AF, Olalekan RM and Abasiekong EM (2018). “Mother and father adolescent relationships and substance use in the Niger Delta: A case study of twenty-five (25) communities in Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa State, Nigeria”. Sociology International Journal, 2(6): 541–548. https://doi.org/10.15406/sij.2018.02.00097

Abe T and Oluwaleye JM (2014). “Citizen participation and service delivery at the local government level: A case of Ise/Orun Local Government in Ekiti State”. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 27: 102–110.

Abegunde O and Akinyemi TE (2014). “Public policy, welfare and social service delivery in Nigeria: The case of a receding state”. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 22: 134–144.

Agba AMO, Okpa JT and Ogar JA (2020). “Amnesty programme and skills training among ex-militants in Nigeria”. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 14(3): 14–26. https://doi.org/10.51709/FW1272J/fall2020/2

Agba MS, Akwara AF and Idu AY (2013). “Local government and social service delivery in Nigeria: A content analysis”. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(2): 455–462. https://doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n2p455

Akinwale AA (2010). “The menace of inadequate infrastructure in Nigeria”. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 2(3): 124–134.

Alao DO, Osakede KO and Owolabi TY (2015). “Challenges of local government administration in Nigeria: Lessons from comparative analysis”. International Journal of Development and Economic Sustainability, 3(4): 61–79.

Amzat J and Olutayo AO (2009). “Nigeria, capitalism and the question of equity”. The Anthropologist, 11(4): 239–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2009.11891110

Apanga PA and Adam MA (2015). “Factors influencing the uptake of family planning in the Talensi District of Upper Region of Ghana”. The Pan African Medical Journal, 20: Art. 10. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2015.20.10.5301

Bakare T (2013, May 6). Democratic Governance: Prospects and Challenges. Sahara Reporters.

Ebingha EE, Eni JS and Okpa JT (2019). “Population growth and socio-economic development of Cross River State, Nigeria”.

European Journal of Economic and Financial Research, 3(3): 20–35.

Ekpe CP and Mamah SC (1997). Social Work in Nigeria: A Colonial Heritage. Enugu Unik Oriental Prints Ltd.

Essang SM (1975). “Growth models and rural development”. In: Olayide SO (Ed.), Elements of Rural Economics, pp. 229–318. University Press.

Ewhrudjakpor C (2009). “Assessment of social welfare services of sufferers of leprosy in Delta State, Nigeria”. African Research Review, 3(1): 13–26. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v3i1.43552

Harande YI (2009). “Information services for rural community development in Nigeria”. Library, Philosophy and Practice, Art. 271.

Irele AO (2011). “The evolution of social welfare and social work in Nigeria”. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 8(3): 238–252.

Managa A (2012). Unfulfilled Promises and their Consequences: A Reflection on Local Government Performance and the Critical Issue of Poor Service Delivery in South Africa (Policybrief Briefing No. 76). African Institute of South Africa.

Mosadeghrad AM (2014). “Factors influencing healthcare service quality”. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 3(2): 77–89. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2014.65

Mwenzwa EM and Waweru SM (2016). “The oscillating state’s role in the provision of social welfare services in Kenya”. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(5): 119–128.

Nwogwugwu UC (2012). “Energy access for Nigeria’s rural economy: Viable option”. Universal Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2(7): 1–11.

Ogbonna BO (2017). “Social welfare scheme; a neglected component of public health care services in Nigeria”. MOJ Public Health, 5(3): 101‒104. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojph.2017.05.00132

Oguzor NS (2011). “A spatial analysis of infrastructures and social services in rural Nigeria: Implications for public policy”. Geotropico, 5(1): 25–38.

Okoi ON, Okpa JT and Iniama J (2021). “Women empowerment and rural development in Nigeria”. The Indian Journal of Social Work, 82(4): 465–486. https://doi.org/10.32444/IJSW.2021.82.4.465-486

Okon PE, Okpa JT and Okoi ON (2020). “Educational support services and teachers’ job performance in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria”. Journal of Educational System, 4(1): 22–29.

Okoye JC (1992). “Capitalist growth theories and models of rural development”. In: Olisa MSO and Obiukwu JI (Eds.), Rural Development in Nigeria: Dynamics and Strategies, pp. 23–39. Mekslink Publishers.

Okpa JT, Ajah BO and Igbe JE (2021). “Rising trend of phishing attacks on corporate organisations in Cross River State, Nigeria”. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 14(2): 460–478.

Okpa JT, Eshiotse E, Ofem NO, et al. (2021). “Child labour and delinquent behaviour in Nigeria: A risk factor analysis”. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 10(3): 99. http://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2021-0067

Okpa JT, Ilupeju AA and Eshiotse E (2020). “Cybercrime and socio-economic development of corporate organisations in Cross River State, Nigeria”. Asian Journal of Scientific Research, 13(3): 205–213. ttps://doi.org/10.3923/ajsr.2020.205.213

Omang TA, Okpa JT and Okoi ON (2022). “Women’s empowerment and the well-being of the unemployed women in Yakurr, Nigeria”. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 24(1): Art. 19.

Omang TA, Okpa JT, Okoi ON and Iniama J (2020). “Women barriers and empowerment opportunities in the Nigerian context”. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 28(4): 3167–3186. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.28.4.37

Sotiropoulos DA and Bourikos D (2014). “Economic crisis, social solidarity and voluntary sector in Greece”. Journal of Power, Politics and Governance, 2(2): 33–53.

Uche AO and Uche IB (2014). “A collection of social work theories and their applications in social research”. In: Ikeanyibe OM and Mbah PO (Eds.), An Anthology of Theories for Social Research, pp. 83–104. University of Nigeria Press.

Umar HS and Tafida AD (2015). “Democracy and social welfare services in Nigeria: A perspective of the Fourth Republic”. Public Policy and Administration Research, 5(2): 52–65.

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) (2010). Local Government Finance: The Challenges of the 21st Century. Edward Elgar.

Uzuegbu CN (2016). Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting the Use of Family Welfare Services in Nsukka Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Unpublished Doctorate Thesis, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Zaidman-zait A, Most T, Tarrasch R, et al. (2016). “The impact of childhood hearing loss on the family: Mothers’ and fathers’ stress and coping resources”. The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 21(1): 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/env038




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v6i2.1448

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2022 John Thompson Okpa, Bassey Ballantyne Ikpeme, Nwosu Uchechukwu Wilson, Ude Bassey Obeten, Ngozi Christiana Nwadike

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.