Page 180 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Determinants of transport exclusion among

pregnant women in selected locations of
southwestern Nigeria

Olabisi Michael Olapoju* and Oluwaseun Hezekiah Adejumo

Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun,
Nigeria

Abstract

Unequal access to transport is an outcome of several factors which play a significant
role in access to maternal healthcare services. This study examines the factors
contributing to transport exclusion among pregnant women in southwestern Nigeria,
with the objective of ascertaining lived experience among the respondents. A survey
was conducted among 357 registered pregnant women from 113 hospitals across
Academic editor: three local government areas in Oyo State. The analysis employed both descriptive
Mihajlo Jakovljevic M.D. Ph.D. MAE and inferential statistics. Results revealed that transport exclusion is prevalent
*Corresponding author: among pregnant women in the study area, with factors such as lack of money
Oabisi Michael Olapoju (95.0%), transport cost (72.0%), and the affordability of transportation means (60.2%)
(oolapoju@oauife.edu.ng) being key determinants. The study concluded that factors contributing to transport
Citation: Olapoju, O.M. & Adejumo, exclusion among pregnant women may have far-reaching effects on their ability to
O.H. (2025). Determinants of meet daily social needs, particularly healthcare access, given their vulnerable status,
transport exclusion among pregnant
women in selected locations of which in turn impacts their overall well-being. Further research may be needed to
southwestern Nigeria. Global Health explain the connection between the transport exclusion of pregnant women and the
Econ Sustain, 3(3):172-184. ease of accessing medical care, as well as their overall well-being.
https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.5203
Received: October 18, 2024
Keywords: Pregnant women; Transport exclusion; Health; Hospitals; Oyo State; Nigeria
1st revised: January 2, 2025
2nd revised: January 25, 2025
3rd revised: February 26, 2025 1. Introduction
4th revised: March 18, 2025
Differential access to various modes of transportation is associated with social exclusion,
Accepted: March 19, 2025 significantly affecting healthcare access, well-being, and quality of life. Studies have
Published online: April 7, 2025 shown that an estimated 1.4 million people annually either miss, refuse, or do not
seek healthcare due to transport difficulties (Jahangir et al., 2024). Equitable transport
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article systems play a critical role in ensuring socially sustainable development by facilitating
distributed under the terms of the access to employment, trade, healthcare, education, and social cohesion (International
Creative Commons Attribution Transport Forum, 2019; Raza et al., 2023). However, urban transport systems largely
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, fail to accommodate women’s specific transport needs (De Madariaga, 2013; Roy et al.,
provided the original work is 2024). This transport discrimination is particularly intense and impactful in the fast-
properly cited. growing cities of the global south, where it exacerbates inequalities and compounds
Publisher’s Note: AccScience multiple insecurities arising from poverty, unemployment, and unsafe infrastructures.
Publishing remains neutral with A lack of transport not only makes accessing healthcare difficult but also affects
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional related services such as collecting medication, meeting appointments, and attending
affiliations. health appointments punctually. Research shows that low-income earners, migrants,

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 172 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.5203