Evaluation of Access, Satisfaction and Perceived Quality of a Free Community Medical Outreach in Badagry, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Inadequate access to affordable healthcare remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, especially among difficult-to-reach, underserved, and suburban populations. Free medical outreach programs have often been deployed as stopgap public health measures to address healthcare gaps, yet empirical evaluations of their effectiveness remain limited. This study evaluated access, satisfaction and perceived quality of a free medical Outreach in Badagry, Lagos State.

Methods: The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design among 212 adult beneficiaries selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires adapted from previously validated tools (PSQ-18 and SERVQUAL) and clinical measurements. Descriptive statistics summarized frequencies and means, paired t-tests assessed changes in blood pressure (BP) pre- and post-medication, and chi-square tests examined associations between patient satisfaction and sociodemographic factors, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Of all the participants screened, 36.7% were hypertensive, and 4.5% had elevated blood glucose levels. Significant reductions in BP readings were observed in mean systolic (176.2 } 15.4 to 157.2 } 13.8 mmHg; p < 0.001) and diastolic BP (96.3 } 11.2 to 88.7 } 10.5 mmHg; p < 0.001) 1 hour after antihypertensive administration. Most respondents (81.6%) reported high satisfaction (mean score = 4.06 } 0.57), independent of age, gender, or occupation (p > 0.05). Perceived service quality was rated highly across health workers’ competence, courtesy, and clear communication. However, 47% expressed dissatisfaction with waiting time.

Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The free medical outreach held in Badagry effectively improved short-term clinical outcomes and achieved high patient satisfaction, demonstrating its potential to enhance access and equity in healthcare delivery. However, the quality and efficiency of services and follow-up mechanisms require strengthening to ensure sustained and global benefits.