Ebony Updates

A recent study has pinpointed poverty, transportation difficulties, and loneliness as major contributors to poor health among Lagos residents. Conducted by health technology expert Omobolanle Agboola, a research scholar at the University of Minnesota, the study explored economic and environmental factors affecting whole-person health. Of the 160 respondents surveyed in Lagos, 88.1% reported insufficient income, and 75.6% expressed an urgent need for financial resources.

Agboola’s research, utilizing the MyStrengths+MyHealth health informatics tool, assessed biological, behavioral, social, and environmental health factors. While respondents noted strengths such as good hearing and low substance use, challenges included inadequate income, limited physical activity, weak social connections, and unsafe home or workplace environments.

The study highlighted poverty as a primary driver of poor physical and mental health, substandard housing, inadequate nutrition, limited healthcare access, and diminished social well-being. It warned that financial insecurity not only heightens short-term health risks but also contributes to long-term illnesses and early mortality.

Transportation barriers were also significant, with 48.1% of respondents citing mobility challenges. Traffic and air pollution were major concerns, affecting 37.5% and 43.8% of participants, respectively. The research revealed that urban and rural residents now face comparable hardships, a shift from pre-COVID-19 disparities when rural areas were more disadvantaged. Over half (54.4%) of respondents could only afford necessities, and 48.8% struggled to purchase basic goods.

Reduced social interaction and sedentary lifestyles were also prevalent, negatively impacting quality of life. Agboola emphasized the need to address these social determinants to improve health outcomes.

The researcher urged collaborative efforts from government, institutions, and communities to enhance financial stability, improve access to transportation and social services, and reduce inequality. The report described poverty as a complex issue requiring sustained action grounded in social justice and health equity.

To boost population health in Lagos, Agboola proposed integrated interventions, including expanding social protection programs to address income insecurity, launching large-scale job creation and skills development initiatives, and improving affordable, reliable public transportation. These measures, she argued, would enhance healthcare access, reduce inequities, and foster long-term health resilience for Lagos residents.

Source: Guardian Nigeria

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