Priced Out of Birth: Nigerian Women Battle Soaring Delivery Costs

For many expectant mothers in Nigeria, the journey of childbirth has transformed into a significant financial burden, pushing families to make agonizing decisions between safe hospital deliveries and potentially dangerous alternatives. Soaring hospital bills, coupled with unexpected charges, are making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to afford basic maternal healthcare.

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People go to the general hospital because they believe the services are cheaper, but that is no longer the case.

The costs associated with antenatal care, normal deliveries, and Cesarean Sections (CS) have escalated dramatically across both public and private health facilities. One couple shared their experience at a government hospital, where initial estimates ballooned unexpectedly. "First it was ₦55,000. Later it became ₦65,000. After that, we kept buying drugs. It was not little money," the mother recounted. Her husband added that the expenses continued to mount, with constant requests for drugs, laboratory tests, and even consumables, despite having donated blood.

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First it was ₦55,000. Later it became ₦65,000. After that, we kept buying drugs. It was not little money.

Families requiring a Cesarean Section at facilities like Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos are now facing bills upwards of ₦700,000 to ₦800,000, with some reports indicating costs exceeding ₦1 million. This financial strain forces many to question the accessibility of adequate healthcare. "People go to the general hospital because they believe the services are cheaper, but that is no longer the case," one mother lamented, noting that general hospitals now seem to cater only to those with substantial financial means.

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You just keep spending because you don’t have a choice. Your wife is in labour, your baby is coming, and you cannot start arguing.

Healthcare experts are raising alarms, warning that these prohibitive costs are directly contributing to unsafe births and a rise in maternal deaths. When financial barriers prevent women from accessing essential medical care during childbirth, the risks to both mother and child increase significantly. The situation highlights a critical challenge in Nigeria's healthcare system, where the cost of bringing a child into the world is becoming an insurmountable obstacle for many.

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If you don’t have between ₦700,000 and ₦800,000, don’t even bother going. If you don’t have that kind of money, don’t bother. They are also fond of asking you to buy excessive drugs.