EXPLORING GENDER AND AGE DISPARITIES IN CLIENT SATISFACTION WITH PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SERVICE QUALITY IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

This research examines the impact of gender and age differences on customer satisfaction about the quality of Primary Healthcare (PHC) services in Yobe State, Nigeria, an area marked by considerable infrastructure deficiencies and persistent insecurity. The study used a cross-sectional analytical survey with 420 adult outpatients from selected urban and rural primary healthcare institutions, using regression analysis to ascertain independent demographic variables of satisfaction. The results indicate a considerable disparity in perception according to age: younger persons (ages 18–35) exhibited a markedly critical stance towards service efficiency and prolonged waiting times (OR=1.8, $p<0.05$), suggesting elevated expectations or discontent with the sluggishness of care provision. Gender disparities were more context-dependent; women indicated better happiness in maternity and child health areas but, conversely, exhibited more dissatisfaction with total wait times compared to males. These impressions were fundamentally undermined by enduring systemic impediments, including significant infrastructure deficiencies, chronic personnel shortages, lack of needed medications, and security issues, which combined diminish patient trust and system efficacy. The study recommends a multifaceted strategy: investing in essential health infrastructure, improving provider capacity via specialized training, and executing demographic-specific service delivery methods to promote equitable, acceptable, and high-quality primary health care services tailored to the varied needs of the Yobe State population.