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Confronting HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria: A Situation Analysis of Human Resources Health in Nigeria: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities

Nigeria has one of the largest stocks of human resources for health (HRH) in Africa: 28 doctors and 170 nurses per 100,000 population. This compares with a sub-Saharan average of 15 doctors and 72 nurses per 100,000 population. Despite the large stock of HRH, there are great disparities in health status and access to health care among different population groups in Nigeria. For example, the underfive mortality rate in rural areas is estimated at 243 per 1,000 live births, compared with 153 per 1,000 in urban areas. While 59 percent of women in urban areas deliver with a doctor, nurse, or midwife, only 26 percent of women in rural areas do so.

Author: Gilbert Kombe, Slavea Chankova, Ha Nguyen, David Chipanta, Ali Onoja, Kayode Ogungbemi, Amy Taye
Published: Jun 1 2007