Nigeria: More Than Just a Healthcare Issue - the Hidden Barriers Facing Pregnant Women With Disabilities in Lagos

What the report says

A new analysis by researchers Obasanjo Bolarinwa and Abdul-Aziz Seidu, republished by AllAfrica from The Conversation Africa, examines the often overlooked barriers facing pregnant women with physical or visual disabilities in Lagos, Nigeria. The piece notes that maternal health remains a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa and that Nigeria continues to account for a large share of global maternal deaths, making access to antenatal, delivery and postnatal care especially important.

The authors say their late-2024 survey covered 250 women with disabilities in Alimosho and Ikorodu, two large local government areas in Lagos State. Most respondents reported using maternal health services: more than eight in 10 attended antenatal care, about seven in 10 delivered in a health facility, and nearly eight in 10 received postnatal care. Even so, the study found clear inequalities linked to where women lived, their education, marital status and household wealth.

Women in Ikorodu were more likely to use maternal services than those in Alimosho. Higher education, being married and living in a wealthier household were also associated with better access. The authors argue that improving maternal health for women with disabilities will require more than expanding facilities. They call for disability-inclusive services, better trained health workers, reduced financial barriers and support with transport, while suggesting lessons from countries such as Nepal and Rwanda. The article frames these steps as relevant to Nigeria’s broader goal of reducing maternal deaths by 2030.