This study critically examines the influence of gender roles and media framing on access to healthcare in Nigeria, highlighting implications for building inclusive societies. It aims to examine how socially constructed gender roles influence who seeks care and who makes health-related decisions, analyse how media framing affects perceptions of men’s and women’s roles in healthcare, and identify structural, social, and cultural barriers that limit equitable access to health services. The study adopts the framing theory as a theoretical framework and uses a library research methodology to synthesise relevant scholarly literature, policy reports, and media analyses. The review highlights that women are often expected to manage family health, care for children, and support the elderly, while men are positioned as decision-makers and providers. These roles contribute to inequitable access to healthcare through financial dependence, restricted autonomy, long travel distances, and cultural pressures that discourage men from seeking preventive care. Media and public messaging are found to reinforce these stereotypes by portraying women as primary caregivers and men as strong, self-reliant figures, shaping health behaviours and family wellbeing. The study contributes to knowledge by linking gender norms, media influence, and systemic barriers to health inequities in Nigeria, emphasising the need for gender-sensitive policies, inclusive media campaigns, community education, and improved health service accessibility. Implementing these recommendations can support more equitable healthcare utilisation and better health outcomes for all Nigerians.
Vol. 5, No 1, pp. 18-25.