ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON CLIENT SATISFACTION WITH PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SERVICE QUALITY IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Primary Health Care (PHC) remains the cornerstone of effective health systems and plays a critical role in improving population health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite ongoing reforms and investments, disparities in the quality and utilization of PHC services persist in Nigeria, often influenced by clients’ socioeconomic status (SES). This study examined the influence of socioeconomic status on client satisfaction with the quality of Primary Health Care services in Yobe State, North-Eastern Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted, involving 397 adult clients attending selected PHC facilities across urban and rural areas of the state. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and post-hoc tests at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that clients were generally satisfied with PHC service quality, particularly in the areas of health education and service effectiveness. However, statistically significant differences in satisfaction were observed based on income level (F = 2.740, p = 0.025) and occupational status (F = 5.424, p = 0.001). Clients in higher income categories reported greater satisfaction, while students were the least satisfied among occupational groups. These variations indicate that socioeconomic factors significantly shape clients’ perceptions and experiences of PHC services. The study concludes that socioeconomic disparities contribute to unequal satisfaction with PHC services in Yobe State. Addressing these disparities through equitable resource allocation, improved infrastructure, enhanced financial protection mechanisms, and targeted community-based interventions is essential for improving client satisfaction, increasing service utilization, and promoting equity in primary healthcare delivery.