Dynamics of Socioeconomic Status and Health Poverty in Ibonwon Township of Eredo Local Council Development Area, Lagos-Nigeria

Résumé

Health spending patterns in Nigeria are significantly impacted by increase in poverty trend; also, the recent recession due to COVID-19 pandemic has
worsened healthcare deprivation leading to increased unemployment and vulnerability in household access to health services. However, studies have
exposed some entangled findings on how poverty affects health deprivation in developing countries. Going by these premises this study focuses on the
dynamics of socioeconomic status and health poverty in Ibonwon Township, Lagos State, aiming to develop a health poverty index using the Alkire Foster
technique. Using the Taro-Yamane sampling size formula, three hundred questionnaires were distributed to seven-quarters of the township for data
collection. The health poverty index was used to examine economic determinants of health poverty, revealing a high frequency of health
deprivation, particularly on healthcare costs. The study found that household income does not significantly impact health poverty, with income differences
causing deprivation and severity by 1.9%. Job skill significantly affects deprivation and severity, while unskilled heads is reduced by 47.4% following
an increase of 14.57%. The study concludes that State Government in its efforts should continually improve access to affordable medical facilities,
qualified doctors, infrastructure, and health service awareness can help eliminate health poverty in Lagos State, but reducing family size may not
always be effective presently as it takes a long-term plan that warrants steady education of its populace needs. The policy suggestion of the study is that
women’s economic empowerment and economic initiatives should be embraced by the policy makers to alleviate health poverty.