Illness and burden of diseases are manifestation of health deprivation. In rural areas, most of the diseases
afflicting people are in most cases outcomes of failure of public health policy and ecological incapacity. This
paper addresses these issues using Borno state as the setting. The objectives of the paper are to delineate the
spatial pattern of health deprivation, and identify the coping strategies for mitigating health deprivation. Data
were gathered through primary (Questionnaire administration and participatory rural appraisal techniques) and
secondary (Policy documents on health, water and environment) sources. A multistage sampling approach was
used to select respondents from the two ecological zones in the study area out of which 630 respondents were
selected from 9 local government areas. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Z-score analysis.
Among the findings is that about 83% of the sampled rural respondents spent between 1-2 hours to reach
medical facility. Due to cost and distance to health facility about 65.26% claimed to experience deprivation. The
major ailments reported include flu, malaria and typhoid fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, scabies and
physiological discomfort. Spatially rural areas with health facility and clement weather conditions have low
Z-score (Damboa (-5.94), Hawul (-2.24) and Konduga (-2.01) while highly deprived are settlements in Kukawa
(5.11), Monguno (2.68) Kwaya-Kusar (1.26) and Mobbar (1.15).The coping strategies adopted include Praying
to God; use of alternative medicine; patronizing ‘Chemists’ and migration. The conclusion is that spatial
disparity in health deprivation should be addressed to improve the quality of life among rural dwellers.
Recommendations include advocating self-help approach to health infrastructure provision, promotion of rain
water harvesting technology and involving non-government organizations in rural health issues.