An assessment of the impact of logistics on accessibility and availability of sexual and reproductive health commodities in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is a country with a population of 165 million people and annual growth rate of 3.2 percent. The nation is one of the most populous in the world and presently facing the challenges of high fertility level. Her young people aged between 10 and 24 years account for 35 percent of the population and the sexual and reproductive health status of adolescents is poor due to lack of access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, early onset sexual activity, multiple sex partners and low utilisation of modern family planning methods while the National HIV prevalence rate is 4.4 percent with about 2.9 million adults living with the virus. This paper therefore examines the impact of logistics on availability and accessibility of sexual reproductive commodities in Nigeria. The study was conducted in South western (Ogun State) and North Central (Niger State) geo political zones of the country which are different socio- economically and geographically. The assessment was in two phases; the first phase was a desk review of relevant documents and information while the validation of the findings from the desk review was done through field assessment in two local Government areas which are urban and rural in Ogun and Niger States respectively.. The result shows that logistics system has influenced the availability and accessibility of the sexual and reproductive health commodities in the two states. All the contraceptives such as condoms, oral contraceptives (pills), contraceptive injections, intrauterine devices, diaphragms and cervical caps, virginal spermicides and spermicidal foams as well as anti-retroviral drugs for HIV and AIDS patients are available at the clinics in the urban Local Government Areas. However, not all can afford them due to cost while some of the contraceptives like non plant implants, sterilization, vasectomy and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) are not readily available in the rural Local Government Areas due to inadequate infrastructural facilities, lack of well trained personnel, inadequate equipment, customs, religion and cost of service. The paper concludes with policy recommendations.