Abstract:

Health inequality is the difference in health status between different populations. Where health inequality exists, the right to highest attainable standard of health is not enjoyed equally across the given population. This study is aimed at understanding health inequalities in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nigeria. Method adopted for primary data collection was structured closed and opened–ended questionnaire from Health Equity Assessment Tool kit created with Epi-Info version7 and administered to 112 respondents. Results; male (52.7%), female (47.3%); socio-economic-stratifiers; highest education attained, 1.8% not educated 98.2% educated. Annual income below N220, 000 (44.3%); N221.000–320,000 (27.4%); N321, 000–420,000(8.0%). aboveN421, 000(20.4%). house rent (68.1%); healthcare (53.1%); education; (49.6%) unaffordable. Transportation (50.5%) affordable. Health; no vaccination (22.1%);prenatal care by unqualified health professionals(24.8%);household births by qualified health professional (23.9%) and unable to afford three meals daily (21.1%).Available health facility: no facility 4.5%, traditional 4.5%, primary 40.2%, secondary 41.1%, tertiary 9.8%.hospital visits within 6months: never 31.8%, once 34.6%, twice 17.3%, thrice10.0% more than thrice 6.4%.Physical environment; no waste containers (37.2%),irregular waste disposal(46.9%),absence of sanitation (50.4%).Source of domestic water; bore hole (59.3%);protected spring (0.88%); stream (25.7%); piped water (0.88%) well(13.3%).Linear regression: highest qualification for activities prevention, geographic location, socioeconomic stratifiers with predictor variables indicated negative regression coefficient. The average income showed positive regression coefficient, correlation coefficient’s=0.43, r=0.07, p-values < F-tests respectively. Other parameters showed positive regression coefficient correlation r=0.38. Conclusion: health inequalities exist in FCT, Nigeria requiring wholistic intervention.

Keywords: Health Inequality, Determinants of Health, FCT, Nigeria.

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