02581nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260004400042653001100086653003700097653001200134653002200146653004100168100001500209700001600224700001300240700001100253700001500264245009200279856007300371300000800444490000600452520185500458022001402313       2024                            d  bSpringer Science and Business Media LLC10aStigma10aUniversal Health Coverage (UHCs)10aNigeria10aHealthcare equity10aSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)1 aOgbonna CK1 aAzubuike PC1 aEnyam MO1 aOdo OJ1 aNwadiche M00aAddressing stigma to achieve healthcare equity and universal health coverage in Nigeria  uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44282-024-00104-1.pdf  a1-60 v23 a<p>Stigma remains a strong barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Stigma is deeply embedded in cultures and historical contexts and has marginalized entire populations afected by HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders, disabilities, and ethnic minorities. It is propagated through social exclusion that aggravates health inequities with aversive expected social reactions, discouraging healthcare-seeking behaviors in time, compromising treatment adherence, and continuing to increase social exclusion for people from stigmatized groups. What has equally remained elusive is the implementation of legislative reforms, with targeted interventions by agencies like the National Agency for Control of AIDS, having policies such as the Mental Health Act. This has created discriminatory attitudes to healthcare settings and limited access to key services for these groups, afecting reproductive health and maternal care, including mental health services. There has been a double burden of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, exacerbating the current condition of limited resources and infrastructure gaps in health care. Combating stigma requires a multifaceted approach targeting individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels if the country is to efectively meet the challenge. This involves hard-hitting education campaigns, enhanced training in cultural competence among healthcare providers, ensuring confdentiality, and creating an inclusive healthcare environment. Indeed, societal perceptions can be changed through community-driven eforts and advocacy for fair access to health care and further, realize equitable quality health access toward full coverage and sustainable development in Nigeria.</p>
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