Multidimensional poverty and health security in selected rural communities of Enugu state

This study investigates the impact of multidimensional poverty on health security in selected rural communities of Enugu State, Nigeria. Employing a quantitative research design, the study employed descriptive statistics and logit regression models to analyses primary data collected from 324 respondents. Three core objectives guide the analysis: to assess how multidimensional poverty influences access to healthcare, to determine its effect on healthcare affordability, and to evaluate the relevance of pro-poor policies in mitigating these effects. The findings reveal that non-income dimensions of poverty—particularly household dependency burden, digital access, asset ownership, and age—play a more significant role in shaping healthcare access and affordability than income, education, or occupation alone. Households with higher dependency ratios were consistently disadvantaged in accessing and affording healthcare, while asset-rich and digitally connected individuals were more likely to overcome these barriers. Surprisingly, income and educational attainment showed limited influence, challenging traditional poverty metrics. Furthermore, while pro-poor policies appear to reach households with many dependents, they insufficiently address the broader spectrum of vulnerable groups. The study concludes that health interventions in rural Enugu must move beyond conventional income thresholds and embrace a multidimensional approach to poverty reduction. Policy recommendations include expanding digital health infrastructure, supporting asset accumulation through micro-credit schemes, designing family-sensitive social programs, and improving the targeting and delivery of pro-poor policies. These strategies will help ensure inclusive and equitable health security for all, particularly the most overlooked and structurally disadvantaged populations.