Health care and medical technology in Nigeria. An appraisal

The objective of the study was to ascertain the extent of utilization of medical technologies (defined as equipment) used in various health care institutions in Nigeria. The study also investigated the factors accounting for use of and under- and nonutilization of this equipment. Sixteen major and minor health care institutions were surveyed. The outcomes of the study indicate that not less than a third of the equipment was out of order at the time of the study. A number of factors are responsible for nonutilization of this equipment. They include lack of infrastructural facilities such as piped water, storage, and power supply; poor handling by badly trained staff; and the low priority that is accorded to maintenance. The study leads to the important conclusion that the local culture is unable to sustain the technologies that are procured.