Implementation of Preventive Care Services in Family Medicine Clinics Across Niger Delta States

Background: Preventive care is a defining component of family medicine practice, yet its integration into routine clinical encounters remains inconsistent in resource-limited Nigerian settings. This study examines the implementation of preventive care services at family medicine clinics across three Niger Delta states in the South South geopolitical zone. Methods: A multi-facility cross-sectional audit was conducted in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Edo States, covering 18 family medicine clinics. Structured checklists assessed the availability and delivery of preventive services including cancer screening, immunisation, cardiovascular risk assessment, and health promotion counselling. Results: Preventive service delivery was highly variable across facilities. Cardiovascular risk screening was most consistently implemented. Cancer screening was offered in less than half of audited facilities. Health promotion counselling was largely opportunistic and unstructured. Facilities with designated preventive care nurses demonstrated higher implementation rates. Conclusion: Preventive care delivery at family medicine clinics in the Niger Delta region is inadequate and inconsistent. Structured preventive care frameworks with dedicated staffing, standardised protocols, and performance metrics should be institutionalised within family medicine departments in these states. Keywords: preventive care, family medicine, Niger Delta, health promotion, screening