"Doctors are targeted and kidnapped": crimes and insecurity contribute to health problems and constrain the delivery of health services in urban settings in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nigeria ranked third in Africa and eleventh globally in the 2024 Crime Index. Despite the country's endemic crime level, its impact on the health sector has been under-researched. The paper presents qualitative data from a study conducted in selected urban Local Government Areas in Abia and Anambra states in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

Method

Fifty-two key stakeholders in security and health sectors, comprising health policymakers (n = 8), public safety officers (n = 10), local community leaders (n = 10), frontline health managers (n = 14), and informal healthcare providers (n = 10), Eight focus group discussions were held with male and female service users.

Results

Findings indicate that acquisitive offenses such as

SUBMITTER: Orjiakor TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12832293 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature