Impact of Insecurity on Access to Maternal Health Services by Women of Reproductive Age in Selected Rural Communities in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy is of late, enmeshed in monumental security challenges, to the extent that no section of the country is insulated from the activities of criminal elements. The most prominent of Nigeria's security hiccups is the Boko-Haram sect in the northeastern region of the country. Besides the Boko-Haram menace, the northwestern zone, particularly Zamfara State, has been under persistent bandit attacks with 16,086 persons abducted between 2015 and 2022. Similarly, 9,490 were killed while 1,385,625 persons were displaced within the period under review. This paper examined the impact of insecurity on access to maternal health services by women of reproductive age in selected local government areas of Zamfara State, Nigeria. Questionnaire and Key Informant Interview were the primary data collection instruments while the Subcultural theory served as the theoretical framework. A total of 382 respondents were used for the study while 30 key informants were interviewed. The study found out that respondents travel 10 to 15km kilometres and 2 to 3 hours to arrive at the nearest maternal health facility leading to a remarkable decline in the rate of utilisation of health services. It was also discovered that insecurity has led to massive relocation of medical personnel, destruction of rural health facilities, decline in hospital patronage and dearth of essential drugs. The paper recommends the adoption of kinetic and non-kinetics strategies to stem insecurity; reconstruction of destroyed medical infrastructures; and location of health care centres within accessible distance to encourage patronage and rehabilitation of persons displaced by bandits in the State.