Women, Religion and Health Policy in a Nigerian Community

Abstract

Focusing in recent decades on the city of Ilorin, in Kwara State, southwest Nigeria, I propose to consider the interrelationships and tension between religious convictions and healthcare policy, as a case study for evaluating the status of women in the Nigerian polity. My resolve on this approach is informed by the pervasive religiosity of the Nigerian nation and by the minimal attention accorded religion in policy formation and Nigerian women. The correlation between philosophy and religion mandates the serious consideration of religion in policy formation and execution. One foremost example is the case of Kwara State’s health sector, especially noticeable in policies concerning child and maternal mortality. I intend to investigate the underlining principles among the people for certain practices that have presented serious challenges to health care policies and their implementation. While three major religions of Nigeria are adequately represented in Ilorin, Islam prevails over Christian and indigenous religions. Although the Islamic system of sharia is not practiced as the sole judicial system in Ilorin, Kwara State, the implications of sharia, which is practiced in conjunction with the civil justice system, for the status of women is apparent. An attempt will be made to proffer explanations and answers where applicable to critical questions. What is the role of religion in women’s identity formation? How does this role affect women’s status in the society and health programs in Nigeria e. g maternal and child health and education policies? How may an appreciation of the status of women in the religious sector affect their reception and utilization of official health policies? Are there mutual avenues that accommodate the religious identity of women and explicate health issues? How may religion serve as a prism for re-evaluating the state’s health care policy for women?