TITLE:               

Healthcare Access and Cost among Pregnant Women: Evidence from Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey Data

AUTHORS:     

Ambrose Nnaemeka OMEJE (PhD), Obinna Patrick ILEME, Chukwuebuka Jude CHIOBI

DOI:  10.5110/77. 1085               Page:   117-137            Vol: 18    Issue: 10   Year: 2023

ABSTRACT

This study utilized data from the most recent Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey data (2018) to examine healthcare access and cost among pregnant women in Nigeria. Employing binary logistic regression, this study was aimed to assess the socioeconomic and demographic factors that influence healthcare access and cost among pregnant women in Nigeria. Stata 17 was used to run the regression. The findings of this research showed that the socio-economic factors: employment status, health insurance coverage and wealth index significantly impacted on healthcare access and healthcare costs. On the other hand, the demographic factors: age, education level, religion, ethnicity, place of residence and region also significantly impacted on healthcare access and costs. Age was an exception as it didn’t have a significant impact on access to healthcare. In line with the objectives, policies such as investments in community health clinics and maternity care centres in lacking areas, regulations that require healthcare providers and facilities to disclose pricing information for maternity-related services, limits on out-of-pocket costs for maternity-related services, support of prenatal education programs that provide information about pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care were recommended.

Keywords:

Healthcare access, Healthcare cost, Pregnant Women, Nigeria, Demographic & Health Survey

Received: 13 November 2023

Accepted: 04 December 2023

Published: 14 December 2023