Perceived Effects of Language Barrier on Quality Healthcare among Pregnant Women in Selected Primary Health Centres in Lagos State

Abstract 
Language barriers substantially hinder 
healthcare outcomes, especially among 
vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. 
This study evaluated the perceived impacts of 
language barriers on quality healthcare 
delivery for pregnant women attending 
selected primary health centers in Lagos State, 
Nigeria. Specific objectives included assessing 
participants' knowledge of language barriers, 
their perceived effects on healthcare quality, 
and the underlying influencing factors. Using 
an accidental sampling method, 132 pregnant 
women were recruited, with 130 
questionnaires validated for analysis. Data 
were gathered via a self-designed 
questionnaire and analyzed descriptively using 
frequency distributions, percentages, bar 
charts, SPSS version 23, and Microsoft Excel 
2010. 
Results indicated a high overall knowledge 
level of language barriers among participants. 
Key perceived effects on healthcare quality 
encompassed delayed interventions (93.8%), 
medication misuse (58.5%), challenges in 
decision-making (52.3%), strained provider
patient relationships (48.5%), and avoidable 
costs (20.0%). Influencing factors included 
cultural disparities (90.8%), low educational 
attainment (80.0%), lack of interpreter services 
(57.7%), and limited availability of educational  
 
materials (5.4%). Statistical analysis revealed 

significant associations between education  
level and knowledge of language barriers  
(p<0.05p<0.05), as well as between knowledge 
and perceived effects (p<0.05p<0.05). These 
findings underscore the necessity for targeted 
communication strategies, such as interpreter 
services and culturally sensitive care, to 
support linguistically diverse pregnant women.