I used to be a bit casual with my shopping habits, but I have come to realise that it’s not sustainable in today's economy. Once, I could easily pick up ingredients at retail prices whenever I wanted for spontaneous cooking ventures, but those days are gone; now, I have to opt for bulk purchases in order to manage my money better as that’s a much more economical option.

Anyway, one day, while I was at the market trying to figure out what I had not yet purchased from my shopping list, I happened to overhear a conversation between two women. One was expressing deep sorrow about her sister who had just come from the hospital. Her sister had always endured excruciating menstrual pain, but it had worsened over time, and initially, they dismissed it as mere exaggeration.

She endured silently until marriage, when she was expected to conceive. Upon undergoing tests, they discovered she was suffering from a condition called endometriosis. I hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help but empathise with her familiar heartfelt account. She nearly broke into tears recounting the family's regrets about not addressing her condition sooner. The rest of the afternoon was spent cooking, yet my mind was occupied with the unfortunate plight faced by Nigerian women, as I recalled numerous similar stories of real-life women whose struggles had been reduced to mere statistics.

Health Challenges Faced by Nigerian Women

Nigerian women have a lot of health challenges to deal with and luckily, many of them can be avoided or treated successfully if caught on time. The main non-infectious contributors to Nigeria’s female mortality rate include: Heart diseases, cancers, diabetes and others including respiratory illnesses. Breast cancer accounts for about 18.6% of deaths, and cervical cancer about 16.8% of the total deaths from cancer.

Experts think these numbers will get even worse over the next few decades, especially in Africa, where non-communicable diseases are expected to get much more common, hitting women even harder than men. It's disheartening to learn about these numbers, particularly considering that many of these diseases could be prevented or effectively treated if detected early.  Gynaecological illnesses like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS which also pose huge challenges to the health of Nigerian women are often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to the poor healthcare seeking attitudes of many.

Early Screening and Detection Matter

Screening and early detection of these diseases significantly improve the chances of survival. For instance, women whose breast cancer is detected at an early stage have a survival rate of 93 percent or higher in the first five years. Screening every two years for women aged 50 to 74 reduces breast cancer deaths by 26%, averting 7 deaths for every 1,000 women screened. It also decreases the number of women diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Screening is estimated to prevent 69.7% of cervical cancer deaths – just think about the impact!

In the case of hypertension, other common heart diseases, and diabetes, early detection can prompt lifestyle modifications and reduce the risks of these conditions.

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Also Read: Health Tips Nigerian Women Must Know Before They Clock 40

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Health Screening in Nigeria

Despite advancements in technology and screening practices, such as mammograms, pap smears/HPV screenings, routine heart tests, and blood sugar tests, there is still a very low uptake of screening processes across Nigeria. Many women do not undergo screenings for cancers, assess their risks for diseases, or exhibit good health-seeking behaviour.

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One aspect of health we often forget to mention or emphasise when discussing healthcare and wellbeing is mental health. Roughly 20-30% of Nigeria's population, currently grapples with various mental health conditions. This epidemic disproportionately impacts six out of every ten women. Depression and anxiety disorders are more prevalent among Nigerian women, occurring twice as frequently as in men. Women's health is particularly affected by postpartum depression and eating disorders, although awareness of these conditions remains significantly lacking. Although these numbers are present, not enough Nigerian women are seeking help in this aspect or getting the treatments they deserve.

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Various factors can account for this poor health-seeking behaviour. These include the absence of health insurance or limited access to subsidised health services, lengthy waiting periods at healthcare facilities, distrust in the health system, and the influence of cultural and religious beliefs.

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There's also this lack of prioritisation of healthcare among many individuals. While people diligently maintain their cars and appliances, they often neglect their own health.

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Many Nigerian women tend to overlook symptoms until they become glaringly obvious, at which point the condition may have worsened considerably. Additionally, some would prefer seeking guidance from their pastors or imams rather than consulting healthcare professionals, which can further exacerbate health issues until it is sadly too late.

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It is also important we discuss the cultural aspects that affect this behaviour: In the traditional Nigerian setting, women often bear the responsibility of caring for their families and are expected to contribute to household income. Consequently, there is prioritisation of family's needs over their personal health concerns, often neglecting self well-being. While prioritising family is great, it shouldn't come at the expense of your own wellbeing, leaving you susceptible to illnesses, causing the same family to be distraught and eventually costing more resources to manage.

How to be Proactive About Your Health

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Now, you might be wondering, "How can I be proactive about my health?" Well, the good news is that as women, we have the power to change the narrative for ourselves and for future generations of women. It starts with taking control of our own health and refusing to become just another statistic. Despite the current state of our healthcare system and how sad it is, we can choose to create a new pathway for holistic wellness for us and for generations of women to come.

Start by taking your health screenings seriously. Early detection can make a significant impact on treating many of these diseases and ensuring your overall well-being. Familiarise yourself with your health metrics and consistently monitor your health status. Don't overlook those initial signs, even the minor aches and pains. Make your health a priority by scheduling annual check-ups and medical examinations. Don't forget to undergo pap smears and mammograms regularly, these proactive measures can not only save you time and money but, most importantly, they can save your life.

At the heart of Débbo Africa lies a commitment to the African women like you. It serves as a safe and accessible space, reducing waiting times and providing reliable investigations for disease detection and immediate management. The focus is on prioritising well-being and helping you overcome health challenges seamlessly. Screening and early detection play a pivotal role in this endeavour, offering a lifeline for Nigerian women to safeguard their health and well-being.

Also Read: Tackling Diabetes in Nigerian Women: A Definitive Guide

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References

1. Akinyemi, A. I. (n.d.). Why Nigeria’s weak health system affects women and girls the most. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-nigerias-weak-health-system-affects-women-and-girls-the-most-163904
2. Aribike, O., Okafor, I., Roberts, A., & Odugbemi, T. (2019). Are Nigerian Women Pro-Active about Noncommunicable Disease Prevention? A Quantitative Survey. Annals of Global Health, 85(1). https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.2355
3. The Gendered Nature of Mental Illness in Nigeria. (n.d.). Meeting of Minds. from https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/the-gendered-nature-of-mental-illness-in-nigeria/#:~:text=An%20estimated%2020%2D30%25%20of
4. Cancer Screening Overview - NCI. (2010, January 13). Www.cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening/patient-screening-overview-pdq#:~:text=Finding%20some%20cancers%20at%20an
5. Background WHO Regional Office for Africa Country Disease Outlook. (2023). https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2023-08/Nigeria.pdf
6. Latunji, O. O., & Akinyemi, O. O. (2018). FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, 16(1), 52–60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143883/
7. Conference Edition The Growing Danger of Non-Communicable Diseases Acting Now to Reverse Course. (2011). http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/Peer-Reviewed-Publications/WBDeepeningCrisis.pdf
8. Lei, L., Tang, Y., Zhang, Q., Xiao, M., Dai, L., Lu, J., Lin, X., Lu, X., Luo, W., Pan, J., Xin, X., Qiu, S., Li, Y., An, S., & Xiu, J. (2022). The Association Between the Frequency of Annual Health Checks Participation and the Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.860503
9. Alageel, S., & Gulliford, M. C. (2019). Health checks and cardiovascular risk factor values over six years’ follow-up: Matched cohort study using electronic health records in England. PLOS Medicine, 16(7), e1002863. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002863
10. Landy, R., Pesola, F., Castañón, A., & Sasieni, P. (2016). Impact of cervical screening on cervical cancer mortality: estimation using stage-specific results from a nested case–control study. British Journal of Cancer, 115(9), 1140–1146. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2016.290
11. Van Ourti, T., O’Donnell, O., Koç, H., Fracheboud, J., & de Koning, H. J. (2020). Effect of screening mammography on breast cancer mortality: Quasi-experimental evidence from rollout of the Dutch population-based program with 17-year follow-up of a cohort. International Journal of Cancer, 146(8), 2201–2208. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32584

Disclaimer

The content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical guidance. Individual health circumstances may vary, and readers are encouraged to seek appropriate medical evaluation and treatment based on their specific needs and conditions.

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