A critical analysis of the extent to which social determinant of health explains health inequalities regarding maternal mortality in Nigeria
1 Department of Microbiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
2 Department of Biochemistry, Caleb University Lagos, Nigeria.
Review Article
GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 12(01), 113–119.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscarr.2022.12.1.0188
Publication history:
Received on 13 June 2022; revised on 20 July 2022; accepted on 22 July 2022
Abstract:
This article critically analyzes and quantified the extent to which social determinants of health explains health inequalities regarding maternal mortality in Nigeria. Evidence suggests that maternal mortality is predominant in developing countries. This formed the rationale in using Nigeria as a case study for critical analysis. This study showed the relationship between social status/determinants, health inequalities and maternal mortality outcomes in Nigeria. Using a critical analytical approach, this study shows that access to a good health care by maternal patients depends on a number of social determinants (such as education/awareness, income level/unemployment, cultural beliefs, insecurity, environmental conditions and healthcare decline/lackadaisical attitude displayed by some health workers in some parts of Nigeria) which can be linked to explain health inequalities that results in maternal mortality in Nigeria. To tackle inequalities, this study recommends targeted social policy reforms and maternal program/education for affected populace in Nigeria.
Keywords:
Maternal mortality; Public health; Health inequalities; Social determinants; Nigeria
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Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
