Gender Differentials in Access to Medical Services During COVID-19 Lockdown: Insights from Nigeria
Date
2022-09
Authors
Adewole, Ololade G.
Omotoso, Kehinde O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
Nigeria, like most countries of the world, implemented a lockdown policy during the
COVID-19 pandemic, restricting all sorts of movements except for essential services
and functions as a measure to contain the virus. Access to medical services is an
important component of good healthcare systems, and with gender inequitable access
to medical services, improving the health outcome of the population is not likely to
be achieved. This study analyses gender differentials in access to medical services
during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, using both descriptive and inferential
analytical techniques. Results show that adult health services were the most needed
medical services, and females needed these services slightly more than their male
counterparts. However, access to these services was greater for males than for females.
This same pattern is also observed for child health services. Further analysis shows
that females are less likely to access adult health services than their male counterparts.
Employment gap contributes about 79% to the gender differential in access to adult
health services. Moreover, differences between males and females in the Northwest
zone also account for the bulk of the gender differentials in access to adult health
services. This suggests the possibility that females are disproportionately treated less
equally than males in the zone. Meanwhile, receipt of social assistance increases males'
access to adult health services by 6.4% and increases that of females' access by 1.6%.
These results were substantiated by qualitative analysis. While some respondents
were of the opinion that there was a gender differential in access to SRH, others
opine that there was none. The study provides evidence-based recommendations
for quality policy decisions on appropriate measures to promote gender-equitable
and sustainable recovery in a time of crisis.
Description
Keywords
COVID-19; Decomposition; Gender; Social assistance; Medical services; Nigeria.