Clarifying the case on the role and limitations of private health care in Nigeria

In a recent study of illness seeking for pre-school age children in three rural local government areas (LGAs) in southern Nigeria, it was found that 50% of parents had sought either first line or subsequent care from patent medicine vendors (PMVs) compared with only 13% at government facilities and 14% at private clinics (Salako et al. 2001). A review of treatment seeking for pre-school children with ‘fever’ in Lagos found a similar pattern, 36% PMV, 22% private and 29% government (Brieger et al. 2002). While the latter study indicates that urban residents have a greater choice of care, both settings show that PMVs form the bulk of private medical enterprise and overall care options.