Barriers to Access and Utilisation of Orthopaedic Services Among Rural Communities in Kebbi State

Access to orthopaedic services is severely constrained in rural communities in northern Nigeria, contributing to preventable morbidity, disability, and mortality from musculoskeletal conditions. This mixed-methods study examines the barriers to access and utilisation of orthopaedic services among rural residents in three selected local government areas of Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Community-based surveys will be administered to 300 adults, supplemented by focus group discussions with ten community leaders and six healthcare workers. Barriers assessed will include financial cost, geographic distance, cultural and traditional healing preferences, awareness of orthopaedic services, availability of transport, and trust in orthodox medicine. Thematic analysis will be applied to qualitative data, and descriptive statistics to quantitative findings. The study anticipates that financial constraints and preference for traditional bone setters will be primary barriers. Findings will be presented to the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, the Primary Health Care Development Agency, and relevant non-governmental organisations to inform community engagement strategies and outreach programming. This research contributes to the evidence base on rural orthopaedic access in North West Nigeria, where the concentration of specialist services in urban centres leaves large rural populations without timely orthopaedic care. Keywords: orthopaedic access, rural communities, barriers, Kebbi State, traditional bone setters.