The Effects of Poverty and Family Loss on Mental Health of Women and Children

Poverty in Nigeria has reached crisis proportions, with women and children disproportionately affected. According to a 2019 study, over 60% of the poorest Nigerians are women, and Nigeria now has an estimated 87 million people living in extreme poverty.

Child-specific data are equally stark: a 2022 UNICEF report found that approximately 54% of Nigerian children are "multidimensionally poor," suffering at least three concurrent deprivations (nutrition, health, education, housing, etc.).

Poverty, Stress, and Psychological Needs

In practical terms, poverty creates chronic stress and insecurity. Nigerian households facing food insecurity, unemployment, or lack of healthcare often experience daily anxiety and helplessness. Psychological theory underscores this: Maslow's framework predicts that when basic and safety needs are not met, cognitive and emotional development can be stunted.

For example, a mother who cannot afford adequate nutrition or a safe living environment may feel intense anxiety and shame, leaving little capacity to pursue education, stable work, or supportive relationships. This chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders or anxiety symptoms.

Family Loss, Trauma, and Displacement

When poverty intersects with loss of family members, the mental health toll deepens. In Northern Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency has been especially devastating. Between 2010 and 2020, the conflict claimed an estimated 27,000 lives (mainly civilians) and displaced about 2.2 million people.

Alarmingly, Nigerian authorities report that the country had the second-highest number of children recruited into armed groups globally and the third-highest number of child abductions in 2018. Many women and girls have been subjected to kidnapping, forced marriage, sexual slavery, and trafficking.

Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and Grief

The combined pressures of poverty and family loss manifest in specific mental health challenges. Depression, anxiety, and grief are among the most common. One large survey in urban Ibadan found that PTSD prevalence among adult women was 4.18%.

Beyond PTSD, many Nigerian women report symptoms of major depression and generalized anxiety. Pregnancy and postpartum periods are especially high-risk: lack of nutrition, prenatal care, or social support can trigger perinatal depression, affecting up to one-fifth of mothers in some studies.

Gendered and Age-Specific Dimensions

These mental health effects are gendered. Nigerian women often face additional burdens such as gender-based violence (GBV), which is common in both urban slums and conflict zones. Women living in poverty are at higher risk of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and exploitation.

For children, impacts vary by age. Younger children (0–5 years) may not comprehend trauma but absorb parental stress and can exhibit developmental delays. Older children and adolescents face disrupted schooling and may be forced into labor or early marriage.

Interventions: Government and NGO Responses

Recognizing these crises, both Nigerian authorities and NGOs have begun interventions, though gaps remain large. In early 2023 the Nigerian government enacted the National Mental Health Act 2021, the first mental health legislative reform since independence.

UNICEF and its partners have provided Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services in humanitarian zones. For example, UNICEF reported that in 2024 about 269,974 children received MHPSS services through counseling, support groups, and trauma care in conflict-affected and crisis areas.

Conclusion

Poverty and the loss of family members combine to create a severe burden of mental distress for Nigerian women and children. Statistics on deprivation and conflict underscore the scale: over half of Nigerian children live in poverty, and millions have endured displacement and trauma.

Continued attention is needed from policymakers and the international community to scale up mental health services (especially for women and children), strengthen social protections, and build resilience in communities. By addressing both material poverty and its psychological fallout through informed programs and policies, Nigeria can begin to heal the unseen wounds inflicted on its most vulnerable populations.