Reproductive health challenges of male and female street beggars and use of reproductive health services by female street beggars in Ife-Ijesa, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives

The aims of the study were to investigate the reproductive health challenges in Nigeria of male and female street beggars and the use of reproductive health services by female street beggars.

Methods

The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, designed by the authors, was used to elicit information from 100 male and female street beggars recruited over a 4 week period in Ife-Ijesa zone, south-western Nigeria. Information was obtained about male and female participants’ reproductive health challenges (symptoms and issues) and female participants’ use of reproductive health services.

Results

More than a third of participants were aged ≥60 years (37%), 57% were men, 82% were from the Hausa tribe and 92% were Muslims. The main reasons given for street begging were poverty (30%) and physical handicap (66%). Although most of the street beggars were aware of the availability of reproductive health services (81%) and where to access them (89%), only a small proportion of female street beggars had given birth in hospital (9.3%) and family planning services (32.6%).

Conclusion

Street beggars are a poor and vulnerable group with reproductive health challenges. They have difficulty accessing reproductive health services because of physical disabilities and related low socioeconomic status.

摘要

目的：本研究的目的是调查尼日利亚男女街头乞讨者面临的生殖健康挑战, 以及女性街头乞讨者对生殖健康服务的利用情况。方法：本研究采用横断面描述性设计。作者设计了一份由采访者管理的问卷, 在四周内从尼日利亚西南部伊费-伊捷萨地区招募了100名男性和女性街头乞讨者, 以获得参与者面临的生殖健康挑战(症状和问题)以及女性参与者使用生殖健康服务的信息。结果：超过三分之一的参与者年龄在60岁以上(37%), 其中57%是男性, 82%来自豪萨部落, 92%是穆斯林。街头乞讨的主要原因是贫穷(30%)和身体残疾(66%)。虽然大多数街头乞讨者知道生殖健康服务的可获取性(81%)和从哪里获得生殖健康服务(89%), 但只有一小部分女性街头乞讨者在医院(9.3%)和计划生育服务(32.6%)中分娩。结论：街头乞讨者是面临生殖健康挑战的贫困弱势群体。由于身体残疾和相关的低社会经济地位, 他们很难获得生殖健康服务。

Keywords:

• Africa
• health services access
• poverty
• reproductive health
• reproductive health services
• street people

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interest associated with this article.