Deaf and disabled women in Nigeria face neglect, communication barriers, and unsafe conditions in maternal healthcare, highlighting urgent need for inclusive policies.

Abuja, 25 November 2025 – Mrs. Hellen Beyioku-Alase, a mother of four and a Deaf woman, recounted her harrowing experience during her first pregnancy at the General Hospital, Kuje, in 2015.

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She revealed that she and her newborn were neglected due to communication barriers, with her baby placed near a wash basin because of insufficient hospital beds.

Delighted by a positive pregnancy test, Beyioku-Alase sought antenatal care, only to be met with blank stares and dismissive body language from healthcare workers who lacked the knowledge or resources to communicate with her.

No sign language interpreters were provided, leaving her excluded from essential prenatal guidance.

“During labour, they didn’t communicate or explain the process. I wasn’t told when to push, and my baby almost didn’t make it,” she told PUNCH Healthwise.

Her husband, also Deaf, could not assist in communicating with staff, compounding the risk.

The neglect extended to family planning services, where healthcare workers assumed she would not understand contraceptive options, putting her health at risk.

pregnancies were also affected, with two miscarriages reportedly linked to inadequate communication and support during care.

Beyioku-Alase eventually sought safer, more inclusive care at a church delivery home, where staff demonstrated empathy and communication flexibility.

Today, she serves as the National President of the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria and Executive Director of Deaf Women Aloud Initiative, advocating for inclusive maternal healthcare across the country.

Maternal Health Challenges in Nigeria

Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with UNFPA citing ratios between 500 and 999 deaths per 100,000 live births. Causes include hemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor. Cultural barriers, limited access to healthcare, and negative attitudes from providers often discourage pregnant women, particularly those with disabilities, from seeking proper care.

Approximately 25 million Nigerians live with some form of disability, including 13 million women and girls of reproductive age.

Experts estimate that there may be 4.5–5 million Deaf women in Nigeria. Yet, despite these numbers, women with disabilities face systemic neglect, discrimination, and unsafe conditions in healthcare facilities.

Discrimination by Health Workers

Ekaete Umoh, former president of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, highlighted that healthcare providers often treat women with disabilities unfairly, limiting their reproductive choices and communication access.

“Many deaf women have died during labour because nurses and midwives fail to communicate critical instructions,” she stated.

Betty Mumbe, National Vice President for Persons with Physical Disabilities in Nigeria, cited communication breakdowns, structural inaccessibility, and insensitive care as barriers preventing women with disabilities from accessing sexual and reproductive health services safely.

Dr. Joseph Akinde, Lagos State Chairman of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, emphasized that women with disabilities are fully capable of reproduction.

He called for sign language interpreters, assistants for visually impaired patients, and facility accessibility improvements to ensure safe maternal care.

Policy Gaps and the Way Forward

Despite Nigeria ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010 and launching the National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018, implementation gaps persist.

Healthcare facilities rarely integrate disability-inclusive practices, leaving many women at risk.

Rhoda Robinson, Executive Director of HACEY Health Initiative, stressed the need for policies specifically addressing maternal healthcare for women with disabilities, including access to information, family planning, and inclusive infrastructure.

She called for accountability measures to ensure healthcare systems uphold the rights of pregnant women with disabilities.

Beyioku-Alase’s story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for inclusive maternal healthcare policies and practices in Nigeria.

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Advocates urge healthcare providers, policymakers, and civil society to prioritize accessibility, communication support, and respect for the dignity and rights of all mothers.