Socioeconomic inequalities in teenage pregnancy in Nigeria: evidence from Demographic Health Survey.

Background: Despite the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria and host of negative medical, social and economic consequences that are associated with the problem, relatively few studies have examined socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy. Understanding the key factors associated with socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy is essential in designing effective policies for teenage pregnancy reduction. This study focuses on measuring inequality and identifying factors explaining socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy in Nigeria.

Geographic and socioeconomic inequalities in the survival of children under-five in Nigeria.

Despite a substantial decline in child mortality globally, the high rate of under-five mortality in Nigeria is still one of the main public health concerns. This study investigates inequalities in geographic and socioeconomic factors influencing survival time of children under-five in Nigeria. This is a retrospective cross-sectional quantitative study design that used the latest Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (2018).

Decomposition of socioeconomic inequalities in the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria: evidence from Demographic Health Survey.

Background: Although malaria in pregnancy is preventable with the use of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP), it still causes maternal morbidity and mortality, in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular. Socioeconomic inequality leads to limited uptake of IPTp-SP by pregnant women and is, therefore, a public health challenge in Nigeria. This study aimed to measure and identify factors explaining socioeconomic inequality in the uptake of IPTp-SP in Nigeria.

Heavy metal content of rice meals sold in a Nigerian market population with a high prevalence of hypertension.

Context: Some market populations in Nigeria have been shown to have high prevalence of hypertension. Current evidence includes environmental pollutants such as heavy metals as risk factors for hypertension.

Aim: To study the heavy metal content of rice meals sold in a market population with a high prevalence of hypertension.

Geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in Nigeria: 2003-2017.

Background: Maternal mortality has remained a challenge in many low-income countries, especially in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. This study examines the geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria over the period between 2003 and 2017.

Methods: The study used four rounds of Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys (DHS, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018) for women aged 15-49 years old.

Does expanding fiscal space lead to improved funding of the health sector in developing countries?: lessons from Kenya, Lagos State (Nigeria) and South Africa.

Background: The global focus on promoting Universal Health Coverage has drawn attention to the need to increase public domestic funding for health care in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This article examines whether increased tax revenue in the three territories of Kenya, Lagos State (Nigeria) and South Africa was accompanied by improved resource allocation to their public health sectors, and explores the reasons underlying the observed trends.

Methods: Three case studies were conducted by different research teams using a common mixed methods approach.

Willingness to pay for antiretroviral drugs among HIV and AIDS clients in south-east Nigeria.

Background: The current trend of withdrawal of donor support for HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria may require that the cost of antiretroviral drugs be borne in part by infected people and their families.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the economic value for free antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) expressed by clients receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS in a tertiary hospital.

Study Method: The contingent valuation method was used to elicit the values attached to free ARVs from people living with HIV/AIDS that were receiving care in a public tertiary hospital in south-east Nigeria.

Socioeconomic status and barriers to the use of free antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS in Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria.

With about 3 million people living with HIV, Nigeria has approximately 8% of the global burden of HIV cases. In 2009, only about 34% of those in need of antiretroviral treatment (ART) were able to access care, which means that Nigeria was far from achieving the United Nations target of 'universal access' by 2010. This study aimed to describe the barriers to accessibility and the coping strategies employed to overcome these barriers among users of free ART services overall and by socioeconomic status (SES).

Investigating determinants of out-of-pocket spending and strategies for coping with payments for healthcare in southeast Nigeria.

Background: Out-of-pocket spending (OOPS) is the major payment strategy for healthcare in Nigeria. Hence, the paper assessed the determinants socio-economic status (SES) of OOPS and strategies for coping with payments for healthcare in urban, semi-urban and rural areas of southeast Nigeria. This paper provides information that would be required to improve financial accessibility and equity in financing within the public health care system.

Are there geographic and socio-economic differences in incidence, burden and prevention of malaria? A study in southeast Nigeria.

Rationale: It is not clearly evident whether malaria affects the poor more although it has been argued that the poor bear a very high burden of the disease. This study explored the socioeconomic and geographic differences in incidence and burden of malaria as well as ownership of mosquito nets.

Methods: Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from 1657 respondents from rural and urban communities in southeast Nigeria on: incidence of malaria, number of days lost to malaria; actions to treat malaria and household ownership of insecticide treated and untreated mosquito nets.

Is community-based health insurance an equitable strategy for paying for healthcare? Experiences from southeast Nigeria.

Objectives: To determine how equitable enrolment and utilization of community-based health insurance is in two communities with varying levels of success in implementing the scheme.

Methods: The study was undertaken in two communities in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria. Data was collected using a questionnaire that was administered to 971 respondents in two communities selected by simple random sampling.

Improving equity in malaria treatment: relationship of socio-economic status with health seeking as well as with perceptions of ease of using the services of different providers for the treatment of malaria in Nigeria.

Background: Equitable improvement of treatment-seeking for malaria will depend partly on how different socio-economic groups perceive the ease of accessing and utilizing malaria treatment services from different healthcare providers. Hence, it was important to investigate the link between socioeconomic status (SES) with differences in perceptions of ease of accessing and receiving treatment as well as with actual health seeking for treatment of malaria from different providers.

Methods: Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 1,351 health providers in four malaria-endemic communities in Enugu state, southeast Nigeria.