“Doctors are targeted and kidnapped”: crimes and insecurity contribute to health problems and constrain the delivery of health services in urban settings in Nigeria

TY - JOUR

T1 - “Doctors are targeted and kidnapped”

T2 - crimes and insecurity contribute to health problems and constrain the delivery of health services in urban settings in Nigeria

AU - Orjiakor, Tochukwu Charles

AU - Agu, Ethelbert

AU - Agwu, Prince

AU - Ogbozor, Pamela Adaobi

AU - Obodoechi, Divine Ndubuisi

AU - Orjiakor, Chidiogo

AU - Odii, Aloysius

AU - Ugwuoke, Chizoba

AU - Eze, John

AU - Bowes, Nicola

AU - Onwujekwe, Obinna

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2026 Orjiakor, Agu, Agwu, Ogbozor, Obodoechi, Orjiakor, Odii, Ugwuoke, Eze, Bowes and Onwujekwe.

PY - 2026/1/12

Y1 - 2026/1/12

N2 - Background: Nigeria ranked third in Africa and eleventh globally in the 2024 Crime Index. Despite the country’s endemic crime level, its impact on the health sector has been under-researched. The paper presents qualitative data from a study conducted in selected urban Local Government Areas in Abia and Anambra states in the southeastern part of Nigeria. Method: Fifty-two key stakeholders in security and health sectors, comprising health policymakers (n = 8), public safety officers (n = 10), local community leaders (n = 10), frontline health managers (n = 14), and informal healthcare providers (n = 10), Eight focus group discussions were held with male and female service users. Results: Findings indicate that acquisitive offenses such as theft, robbery, kidnapping, sexual offenses, and gang-related or cultism-driven violence were frequently reported. Residents, healthcare professionals, local authorities, and policymakers noted that these crimes posed significant threats to health workers and negatively impacted the functionality of health facilities. Incidents of staff absenteeism, equipment theft, and night shift interruptions were reported. Furthermore, elevated crime rates have led service users to consider safe times when accessing healthcare facilities carefully.

AB - Background: Nigeria ranked third in Africa and eleventh globally in the 2024 Crime Index. Despite the country’s endemic crime level, its impact on the health sector has been under-researched. The paper presents qualitative data from a study conducted in selected urban Local Government Areas in Abia and Anambra states in the southeastern part of Nigeria. Method: Fifty-two key stakeholders in security and health sectors, comprising health policymakers (n = 8), public safety officers (n = 10), local community leaders (n = 10), frontline health managers (n = 14), and informal healthcare providers (n = 10), Eight focus group discussions were held with male and female service users. Results: Findings indicate that acquisitive offenses such as theft, robbery, kidnapping, sexual offenses, and gang-related or cultism-driven violence were frequently reported. Residents, healthcare professionals, local authorities, and policymakers noted that these crimes posed significant threats to health workers and negatively impacted the functionality of health facilities. Incidents of staff absenteeism, equipment theft, and night shift interruptions were reported. Furthermore, elevated crime rates have led service users to consider safe times when accessing healthcare facilities carefully.

KW - crime

KW - health

KW - health facility

KW - insecurity

KW - urban

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028425569

U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1671252

DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1671252

M3 - Article

C2 - 41602004

SN - 2296-2565

VL - 13

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Frontiers in Public Health

JF - Frontiers in Public Health

M1 - 1671252

ER -