ABSTRACT
This study was designed to allow a description and analysis of community perceptions and expectations of health and health care in the context of district-based health systems in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Community perception of health and health care is viewed from the perspective of a model that recognizes an interaction among a number of variables (WHO/AFRO 2012). These include the environmental and sociodemographic realities of the people as well as their past experiences with the health system. The various sociodemographic and environmental realities of the people constitute the independent variables. On the other hand, the model accounts for past experiences with PHC in explaining the intermediate factors that influence perceptions and expectations of the PHC system. See Figure 6.1 for details. The design ensured the determination of key factors for community engagement and empowerment in the governance and management of local health systems.
