A Critical Evaluation of African Initiated Churches’ Contributions to Primary Healthcare in Rural Ondo State

This study critically evaluates the contributions of African Initiated Churches (AICs) to primary healthcare delivery in rural communities of Ondo State, South West Nigeria. AICs occupy a distinctive position in Nigerian religious life, combining Christian faith with indigenous healing practices in ways that attract significant followings in rural areas where formal healthcare is limited. Using a mixed-methods design, data are gathered from health programme records, ninety community beneficiary surveys, and twenty interviews with AIC leaders, community health workers, and state health officials across Owo, Akoko North, and Idanre Local Government Areas. The study evaluates AIC health contributions across domains including maternal care, malaria treatment, mental health, and HIV prevention, applying primary healthcare quality standards to assess the adequacy of interventions. Findings indicate that AICs provide meaningful social support, reduce health anxiety, and facilitate referrals to formal healthcare in some cases, but that prayer-centred healing practices that discourage medical treatment are associated with delayed care-seeking and adverse health outcomes in others. The study recommends the development of a church-health sector engagement framework for Ondo State that capitalises on AICs' community trust while establishing clear protocols for referral and co-management of serious medical conditions. Keywords: African Initiated Churches, primary healthcare, rural health, Ondo State, faith and medicine