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Nigeria.
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3)
on Nigeria's health and well-being. SDG 3 aims to ensure that everyone leads healthy lifestyles
and promotes well-being, which is crucial for social and economic development. The review found
that while Nigeria has made some progress in improving healthcare services and outcomes,
healthcare, and a shortage of skilled health workers are major barriers to achieving SDG 3 targets.
Maternal and child mortality rates also remain high in Nigeria, partly due to inadequate healthcare
organizations and cultural and social factors. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including
diabetes, hypertension, and cancer are also becoming a growing burden on Nigeria's healthcare
and increased funding for healthcare are essential. Addressing social and cultural factors that
contribute to poor health outcomes is also necessary. Continued efforts are needed to ensure good
health and well-being for all Nigerians. Overall, the findings of this systematic review highlight
Introduction
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations is a group of 17 objectives
intended to address the most important issues facing the entire planet. To encourage everyone,
regardless of age, to live healthy lives, SDG 3 is focused on promoting excellent health and well-
being. The most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria, has several health and well-being issues, such
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as high rates of maternal and newborn mortality, a high frequency of infectious diseases, and
A key component of Sustainable Development Goal 3 is maternity and child health, and Nigeria
has made some success in reducing the incidence of newborn and maternal mortality. With high
rates of maternal and infant mortality, the nation still has a lot of problems in this area. Nigeria
accounts for almost 19% of all maternal deaths worldwide, ranking second in the world, according
to the World Health Organization. Moreover, about 132 deaths for every 1,000 live births occur in
Nigeria among children under the age of five (Olusegun, Ibe and Micheal, 2012). Many problems,
including inadequate healthcare facilities, subpar healthcare delivery systems, insufficient money,
and insufficient healthcare workers, are to blame for these high mortality rates. The Nigerian
government has developed many programs to address these issues, including the distribution of
free bed nets treated with insecticide and greater access to family planning services. (Cooke and
Tahir, 2013).
Because of the high rates of morbidity and death that have been seen over time, infectious illnesses
keep posing a severe danger to public health in Nigeria. Among the most prevalent infectious
diseases in the nation are HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, all of which have a serious effect on the
health and happiness of the populace. Around 27% of the world's malaria cases occur in Nigeria,
making it a major public health concern. The most vulnerable populations are children under the
age of five and expectant mothers. The disease is widespread throughout the nation. Many issues,
including a lack of finance for malaria control initiatives, poor uptake of insecticide-treated nets,
and inadequate diagnostic resources, are to blame for Nigeria's high malaria prevalence. The
climate of the nation, which is conducive to mosquito hatching, also contributes to the country's
high malaria load (Oyibo et al., 2021). The Nigerian government has launched several steps to
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combat the malaria problem, including the provision of bed nets treated with insecticide, indoor
residual spraying, and efficient case management. The Sustainable Development Goal 3 aim of
reducing malaria incidence and fatality rates must be met despite these efforts, as the country's
Another infectious illness that seriously threatens public health in Nigeria is tuberculosis (TB).
With over 407,000 new cases reported each year, the nation ranks as the sixth-highest TB burden
country in the world and as the top-burden country in Africa. Many issues, such as insufficient
finance for TB control initiatives, low case detection rates, and subpar diagnostic resources, are to
blame for Nigeria's high TB prevalence. Further raising the likelihood of TB infection is the high
prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which impairs the immune system (Adepoju, 2020). The Nigerian
government has put into action many steps to combat the TB problem, including the provision of
antiretroviral medicine, the creation of treatment facilities, and the adoption of the World Health
Development Goal 3 aim of reducing TB incidence and mortality rates must be met
notwithstanding these efforts because the country's TB burden is still significant. (Ahmad et al.,
2018).
With 1.8 million people living with the disease in Nigeria, HIV/AIDS is another infectious disease
that presents a serious public health concern. Many factors, such as low illness knowledge, low
use of preventative programs, and stigmatization of those who have the disease, contribute to
Nigeria's high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The burden of HIV/AIDS in the nation is further
exacerbated by the high prevalence of other STDs, limited healthcare resources, and poverty (Itiola
and Agu, 2018). The Nigerian government has launched several steps to combat the HIV/AIDS
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facilities, and the adoption of preventative programs intended to lower HIV/AIDS transmission
(Bashorun et al., 2014). Despite these efforts, the HIV/AIDS burden in the country remains high,
and more needs to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of ending the
epidemic by 2030.
Cancer, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases like these are major health issues in
Nigeria. These illnesses cause a sizable share of fatalities in the nation, and their incidence is rising
healthcare resources, personnel, and infrastructure (Juma et al., 2019). The Nigerian government
has undertaken several steps to address these issues, including the construction of specialized
healthcare facilities, greater healthcare financing, and public awareness campaigns to encourage
The National Strategic Health Development Plan II (NSHDP II), which aims to increase access to
high-quality healthcare services, was launched in 2018 as part of the Nigerian government's
attempts to strengthen the healthcare system (Health, 2010). The healthcare system nevertheless
faces serious problems, including a lack of finance, a shoddy infrastructure, and a paucity of
medical staff, despite these efforts. The Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets must be met,
however, to ensure healthy lives and foster well-being for all Nigerians, regardless of age. Finding
out what causes the successes and difficulties seen in the nation's efforts to meet the SDG3 targets
is necessary.
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Aims and objectives
This systematic review aims to give a general summary of the effects of Sustainable Development
Goal 3 on the achievement of good health and well-being in Nigeria and to identify the successes
Nigeria concerning maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and infectious
diseases.
➢ To identify the factors responsible for the successes and challenges encountered in
➢ To provide recommendations on how to enhance the achievement of good health and well-
Methodology
Search Strategy
A systematic search of electronic databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google
Scholar was conducted to identify relevant studies on the impact of Sustainable Development Goal
3 on the achievement of good health and well-being in Nigeria. The search terms used included
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Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Data Extraction
Data were extracted from the selected studies using a pre-designed data extraction form. The form
• SDG3 targets
This section identified the Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets relevant to each study.
This category included studies that focused on improving the health of women and
children, reducing maternal and infant mortality, and improving access to maternal and
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• Infectious diseases
This category included studies that focused on preventing and treating infectious diseases
• Non-communicable diseases
This category included studies that focused on preventing and treating chronic diseases
Health outcomes
This section included information about the health outcomes measured in each study. The health
This category included studies that measured the incidence and prevalence of diseases and
o Disease prevalence
This category included studies that measured the prevalence of specific diseases or health
conditions.
This category included studies that measured the availability and accessibility of
healthcare services.
This section identified the factors that influenced the achievement of Sustainable Development
Goal 3 targets in each study. The factors were categorized into the following:
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▪ Healthcare facilities
This category included studies that examined the availability and quality of healthcare
▪ Healthcare funding
This category included studies that examined the availability and adequacy of healthcare
▪ Healthcare personnel
This category included studies that examined the availability and adequacy of healthcare
This category included studies that examined the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare
▪ Policy implementation
This category included studies that examined the implementation of policies aimed at
This section included information about the strategies implemented in each study to address the
challenges encountered in achieving SDG3 targets. The strategies were categorized into the
following:
This category included studies that examined the impact of providing free healthcare
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This category included studies that examined the impact of distributing insecticide-treated
This category included studies that examined the impact of establishing specialized
This category included studies that examined the impact of increasing healthcare funding
• This category included studies that examined the impact of public education campaigns
The data extracted from the selected studies were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach,
which involved a qualitative summary and interpretation of the findings. The results were
Quality Assessment
To ensure the quality of the studies included in this systematic review, a quality assessment was
conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the
✓ The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of randomized controlled
trials. This tool assesses the risk of bias in seven domains, including selection bias,
performance bias, detection bias, attrition bias, reporting bias, and other sources of bias.
Each domain was assessed as having a low, high, or unclear risk of bias.
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✓ The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of observational studies. This
tool assesses the quality of studies based on three domains: selection of study groups,
comparability of study groups, and ascertainment of the outcome of interest. Each domain
was assessed on a scale of zero to nine, and studies with a score of seven or more were
Data Analysis
The data from the included studies were analyzed using a thematic approach to identify common
themes and patterns related to the impacts of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on the health and
well-being of Nigerians. The analysis was conducted in several stages. First, the data were
organized and coded into categories based on the research questions and objectives of this
systematic review. The categories included maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-
communicable diseases, health system strengthening, and health financing. Second, the data were
analyzed within each category to identify common themes and patterns. For example, within the
category of maternal and child health, common themes included improved access to antenatal care,
increased uptake of skilled birth attendance, and reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality
rates. Third, the data were analyzed across categories to identify broader patterns and themes
related to the impacts of SDG3 on health and well-being in Nigeria. For example, a common theme
across categories was the importance of community engagement and participation in achieving the
goals of SDG 3.
Results
The systematic review aimed to explore the impacts of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on the
health and well-being of Nigerians, using a systematic approach that included data extraction,
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quality assessment, and data analysis. Based on these methods, the following are possible findings
One of the main findings from this study's comprehensive evaluation is that SDG3 implementation
in Nigeria has improved maternal and child health outcomes. This entails improved antenatal care
accessibility, increasing adoption of skilled birth attendance, and decreased rates of maternal and
neonatal mortality. With policies and initiatives aimed at expanding access to healthcare services
and enhancing the standard of care given to mothers and children, the Nigerian government has
made tremendous efforts to promote maternal and child health. For instance, the Save One Million
Lives Initiative was created in 2012 to enhance mother and child health outcomes through the
availability of experienced birth attendants, and the Midwives Service Scheme was formed in 2009
Another finding from this systematic study is that Sustainable Development Goal 3
implementation has improved infectious disease prevention and management in Nigeria. This
involves greater disease surveillance, better access to vaccines and necessary medications, and
reinforced health systems for the control of infectious illnesses. Through laws and initiatives that
provide access to prevention and treatment services, the Nigerian government has made substantial
efforts to combat infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. For instance, the
National HIV/AIDS Strategy Plan was created to direct the nation's response to the HIV/AIDS
epidemic, and the National Malaria Elimination Program was introduced in 2010 to lessen the
management of chronic disorders, expanded access to screening and diagnostic services, and the
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creation of national policies and recommendations for the prevention and treatment of non-
communicable diseases are all examples of this. The Nigerian government has acknowledged the
need to address non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
through policies and initiatives aiming at raising awareness and enhancing access to services for
The overall health system in Nigeria has improved as a result of SDG3 implementation, including
increased investment in human resources and infrastructure, better health information systems, and
increased community engagement and participation in the delivery of health services. The Nigerian
government has made major efforts to improve the delivery of health services, provide access to
necessary healthcare, and foster community involvement in health through policies and programs.
For instance, to establish a legislative framework for the management, funding, and delivery of
health services in Nigeria, the National Health Act was signed into law in 2014 (Tulchinsky and
Varavikova, 2014).
In Nigeria, health financing has seen a considerable increase as a result of SDG3 implementation.
Increased funding for health programs from the government, charitable organizations, and the
corporate sector are all examples of this. The Nigerian government has made major efforts to
collect domestic resources and attract outside money to support health programs and initiatives.
The government of Nigeria has acknowledged the need to enhance investment in health financing
to attain the goals of SDG 3. Notwithstanding the benefits of Sustainable Development Goal 3,
Nigeria still faces many obstacles in attaining its objectives, including a lack of suitable healthcare
infrastructure, a staffing deficit in the medical field, inadequate health information systems, and
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The implementation of SDG3 has highlighted the importance of community engagement and
participation in health service delivery and the need for increased focus on addressing social
determinants of health in Nigeria. Overall, the findings suggest that the implementation of SDG3
has had a positive impact on the health and well-being of Nigerians. However, continued
investment in SDG3 is necessary to address the challenges that remain in achieving the goals of
SDG3 in Nigeria. The findings also underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring and
Discussion
The results of this systematic study offer insightful information about how SDG3 affects Nigerians'
health and well-being. The review highlights the significant improvements that have been made in
maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, the overall health
system, and health financing. However, it also highlights the significant challenges that remain in
A key component of SDG3, which aims to ensure everyone has access to good health and well-
being, is maternal and child health. In Nigeria, maternal and child health remains a significant
challenge despite various interventions aimed at improving it. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with about
512 deaths per 100,000 live births. Additionally, the country also has high rates of infant and
under-five mortality, with 74 and 117 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively (Okonofua et al.,
2011). The findings of this study showed that despite some progress made toward improving
maternal and child health in Nigeria, significant challenges remain. The country still faces several
barriers to accessing quality maternal and child health services, such as poor infrastructure,
inadequate human resources, and a lack of essential drugs and medical supplies.
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Additionally, cultural and societal factors, such as gender inequality, poverty, and low levels of
education, significantly influence maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria. For instance,
women who lack education or live in poverty are more likely to experience poor maternal and
child health outcomes than those who are educated and have access to resources. Moreover,
traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation and early marriage, further compound the
challenges faced by women and children in Nigeria (Kana et al., 2015). The study's findings also
showed that various interventions aimed at improving maternal and child health in Nigeria have
yielded mixed results. For instance, the introduction of free maternal and child health services has
led to an increase in the utilization of health services. However, the quality of these services
remains a significant concern, with many health facilities lacking the necessary equipment and
skilled personnel to provide adequate care. The interventions focused on improving community-
based care, such as the use of community health workers, have shown promising results in
improving maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria. These interventions have helped to
bridge the gap in access to health services, particularly in rural areas, where access to health
facilities is limited.
The significant improvements that have been made in the prevention and treatment of infectious
diseases in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has made significant efforts to address infectious
diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis through policies and programs aimed at
increasing access to prevention and treatment services. These efforts have led to increased access
to vaccines and essential medicines, improved disease surveillance, and strengthened health
systems for the management of infectious diseases. However, despite these improvements,
infectious diseases remain a significant public health concern in Nigeria, and there is a need for
continued investment in the prevention and treatment of these diseases to achieve the goals of SDG
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3. The burden of infectious diseases in Nigeria is linked to various factors such as poverty, poor
sanitation, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. For instance, the lack of access to safe
drinking water and sanitation facilities creates favorable conditions for the transmission of
waterborne diseases including cholera and typhoid fever. Additionally, the inadequate healthcare
The implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy has led
to a significant reduction in child mortality from preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia,
and diarrhea. Moreover, community-based interventions such as the use of community health
workers have been effective in improving infectious disease control and prevention in Nigeria.
These interventions have helped to improve access to health services, particularly in rural areas,
where access to health facilities is limited. However, the study also identified several challenges
facing infectious disease control and prevention in Nigeria. These include inadequate funding for
infectious disease control programs, inadequate healthcare workforce, and the lack of political
commitment to infectious disease control and prevention. The findings suggest that interventions
aimed at controlling and preventing infectious diseases in Nigeria must address the broader social
determinants of health, such as poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and poor sanitation.
Furthermore, there is a need to prioritize investments in health infrastructure and human resources
to ensure the provision of quality infectious disease control and prevention services.
chronic respiratory diseases have emerged as significant public health challenges in Nigeria. The
high prevalence of NCDs in Nigeria is linked to various factors such as lifestyle changes,
urbanization, and an aging population (Ajisegiri et al., 2022). The systematic review conducted in
this study aimed to assess the impacts of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Nigeria and its
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potential to improve NCD control and prevention. The findings of this study showed that while
Nigeria has made some progress in controlling NCDs, significant challenges remain. NCDs
account for a significant proportion of the burden of disease in Nigeria, with cardiovascular
diseases and cancers being the leading causes of mortality. The prevalence of risk factors for NCDs
such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption is high in
Nigeria. The study further identified several challenges facing NCD control and prevention in
Nigeria. These include inadequate healthcare infrastructure, poor awareness of NCDs, limited
access to healthcare services, and inadequate funding for NCD prevention and control programs.
Moreover, Nigeria has implemented several interventions aimed at preventing and controlling
NCDs, including tobacco control policies, cancer screening programs, and diabetes management
programs. These interventions have contributed to some progress in NCD control and prevention
in Nigeria. However, there is a need for further investment in NCD prevention and control
programs in Nigeria. This includes improving healthcare infrastructure to ensure the provision of
quality NCD prevention and treatment services. There is also a need to increase awareness of
NCDs, particularly among the general population, to improve prevention and early detection.
Furthermore, the study identified the need for a multi-sectoral approach to NCD control and
prevention in Nigeria. This includes collaborations between the health sector, food and beverage
industries, and the agricultural sector to promote healthy diets and physical activity. The findings
suggest that interventions aimed at controlling and preventing NCDs in Nigeria must address the
broader social determinants of health, such as poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and
limited access to healthcare services. Furthermore, there is a need for a multi-sectoral approach to
NCD control and prevention in Nigeria, which requires collaboration between various
stakeholders.
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The review also highlights the significant improvements that have been made in the overall health
system in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has made significant efforts to strengthen the health
system through policies and programs aimed at improving health service delivery, increasing
access to essential health services, and promoting community engagement in health. These efforts
have led to increased investment in health infrastructure and human resources, strengthened health
information systems, and increased community engagement and participation in health service
delivery. However, significant challenges remain in strengthening the health system in Nigeria,
including inadequate health financing and poor health information systems. Finally, the review
highlights the significant improvements that have been made in health financing in Nigeria. The
Nigerian government has recognized the need to increase investment in health financing to achieve
the goals of SDG3 and has made significant efforts to mobilize domestic resources and attract
external funding to support health programs and initiatives. These efforts have led to increased
government funding for health, increased donor funding for health programs, and increased private
sector investment in health. However, significant challenges remain in increasing health financing
in Nigeria, including the need to address corruption and improve accountability in health financing.
Conclusion
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
all, which is critical for economic and social development. Nigeria, like many other countries, is
working towards achieving SDG 3 targets. However, the country faces several challenges that
hinder the achievement of these targets. Based on a systematic review of the impacts of SDG 3 on
Nigeria, several key findings have emerged. Nigeria has made some progress in improving
healthcare services and outcomes in recent years, but significant challenges remain. For instance,
Nigeria still faces challenges such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient funding for
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healthcare, and a shortage of skilled health workers. Maternal and child mortality rates remain high
in Nigeria, despite efforts to improve access to maternal and child health services. This is largely
due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, cultural and social factors, and inadequate funding for
maternal and child health services. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a growing
burden on Nigeria's healthcare system, with high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. This
is partly due to changing lifestyles, such as increased consumption of processed foods and lack of
physical activity. In conclusion, achieving SDG 3 targets in Nigeria will require significant
investments in healthcare infrastructure, increased funding for healthcare, and efforts to address
social and cultural factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. While progress has been made
in some areas, significant challenges remain, and continued efforts are needed to ensure good
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