Who Is Most Likely to Experience Corruption When Seeking Health Care in Nigerian Healthcare Facilities?

Background: Experiencing corruption when seeking health services remains a significant problem in Nigeria. An effective response requires knowledge of the individual characteristics of those impacted by corruption when seeking healthcare. This study examined the prevalence of corruption among those seeking health services in Nigeria’s public healthcare facilities and how it varies among different user groups.

Methods: We used a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data from 1659 individuals randomly selected from households in two Nigerian states. We collected data on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and experiences of corrupt practices. We undertook descriptive and binomial logistic regression analyses.

Results: Approximately 50% (823) of respondents experienced corrupt practices, such as using connections for faster treatment and bribery when seeking health services. 446 (27%) respondents bribed or made so-called ‘unapproved’ payments to health providers to obtain health services. Gender was a strong predictor, with male healthcare service users being more likely to experience corrupt practices (%point risk difference=24; 95% CI= 20, 29) and bribe or make an unapproved payment to obtain healthcare (%point risk difference=20; 95% CI= 15, 25). Residents in the northern state were (%point risk difference=30; 95% CI= 26, 35) more likely to experience corrupt practices than residents in the eastern state. People seeking healthcare in urban (%point risk difference=09; 95% CI= -05, 08) and semi-urban (%point risk difference=12; 95% CI= 05, 19) locations were more likely to have bribed or made ‘unapproved’ payments to healthcare providers compared to rural residents.

Conclusion: Health sector corruption, in its various forms, is frequently reported in both northern and southern Nigeria. However, user experience of corruption varies according to socio-demographic characteristics, and this is often insufficiently acknowledged. To combat corrupt practices in both health sectors, anti-corruption initiatives must be tailored to particular groups and settings, addressing specific disadvantages at individual and community levels.