Reproductive Epidemiology, Health Status and Burden of Disability

Abstract

Approximately 15% of the global population (over a billion people) have a disability, and the prevalence is higher in developing countries. In patriarchal societies, which are the norms in the developing nations, women and girls are more likely to have a disability due to gender-based violence, limited access to health care, and poor working conditions. The impairment profoundly impacts the sexuality and quality of life of women and girls of all ages. Unfortunately, in Africa, because of limited information about disability, frontline clinicians and policymakers often ignore the plights of people with disabilities. This chapter discusses reproductive epidemiology, health status, and the burden of disability among African women. Despite the horrific health indicators in most African countries, including Nigeria, their government, unfortunately, still allocates less than 10% of their national budgets to health. Compared to other public health programmes, funding for maternal, newborn and child survival programmes is limited. To effectively address the myriad of reproductive health challenges in Africa and to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty by the year 2030, African countries must recommit to their 2011 Abuja Declaration pledge to allocate at least 15% of their national budget to health care.