Gender Variations and Inequity in Health Care Financing: Evidence from Southeast Nigeria

Health care is central to sustainable development, but it is underfunded in many developing countries such as Nigeria. This study empirically examined gender variations and inequity in health care financing in Southeast Nigeria. To decompose the Gini coefficient and analyze inequity by gender and differences in health care financing among states in the region, Dagum's approach for decomposition of the Gini coefficient is used. Empirical results showed that gender inequity exists in health care financing in Southeast Nigeria. In addition, variations in health care financing inequity among states in the Southeast region were found. Based on the foregoing, the study recommends that when implementing health care financing reforms, different population groups be covered in order to achieve the broader equity and effectiveness goals. Furthermore, governments in various states should step up efforts to assist disadvantaged and oppressed communities, such as poor indigenous people, in terms of health care utilization, which could reduce the health care financing burden.