Access to maternal healthcare in an urban slum: the case of Makoko Community in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Idongesit Eshiet, University of Lagos

The study investigates access to maternal healthcare in an urban slum based on a cross sectional survey. Access is measured in terms of access to family planning, antenatal and postnatal care and safe delivery. Questionnaire and focus group discussion will be used to gather quantitative and qualitative data from a sample size of 230 women of child bearing age (15 – 49 years). Structural functionalism, Conflict and Symbolic Interactionism theories will serve as the theoretical underpinnings of the study. Makoko community is a fishing community located in the fringes of the Lagos metropolis with a population of 85,840, comprising of 43,280 males and 41,540 females. It is expected that the study will unravel the access of child bearing women in Makoko community to maternal healthcare in terms of knowledge and affordability of family planning; affordability and distance to healthcare provider and facility for antenatal and postnatal care and safe delivery.