The Effects of Health Expenditure on Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

This article investigates the core macroeconomic and social determinants of health expenditures as well as the effect of health expenditures on select critical health outcomes (life expectancy, under-five mortality and maternal mortality) in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study utilizes data on 46 sub-Saharan African countries covering the period 2000–2015. The results indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, physician per 1,000 population, population aged above 65 years and under-five mortality rate are the most significant determinants of health expenditure in the region. Overall, health expenditure is less income-elastic, not rising as a portion of GDP in wealthier nations. Health expenditure was found to exert a positive and significant impact on all three health outcomes. Specifically, a 1 percent increase in health expenditure per capita resulted in a 0.5 percent reduction in under-five mortality and a 0.35 percent fall in maternal mortality, while improving life expectancy by 0.06 percent. The results suggest that steady increases in health expenditures over time have the tendency to improve health outcomes in SSA.

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The Effect of Healthcare Expenditure on the Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan African Countries

Asian Journal of Economics Business and Accounting ◽

10.9734/ajeba/2019/v12i430158 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Xing Weibo ◽

Birhanu Yimer

Keyword(s):

Health Outcome ◽

Infant Mortality ◽

Life Expectancy ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Expenditure ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Countries ◽

Under Five ◽

Per Capita ◽

Sub Saharan

Health is a major component for a fulfilled life that everyone in the world desires to acquire. Governments are expected to play a vital role in providing quality health service to their people. Even though an increased health care expenditure is mostly considered as a primary contributor for an improved health outcome, empirical studies however indicate controversial results. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the effect of health expenditure on the selected health outcomes (Life Expectancy, Infant Mortality, Under-Five Mortality and Crude death) in Sub Saharan Africa. The linear dynamic generalized method of moments instrumental variable (GMM-IV) was used on a panel of 39 Sub-Saharan African Countries for the years 1995-2014. Results of this study showed that health expenditure significantly improves life expectancy and lowers infant mortality, under-five mortality & crude death in Sub Saharan Africa. The separate effects of Public and private health expenditures have also shown a significant positive relationship on life expectancy and negative on infant mortality, under-five mortality & crude death. The one period lag of health expenditure was estimated and the regression results indicated statistically significant relationship with health outcomes. In addition to health expenditure, other determinants like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, urbanization, immunization and basic drinking water brought improvement on life expectancy, infant mortality, under-five mortality & crude death. In contrast, HIV prevalence and unemployment are factors that reduce life expectancy and increase infant mortality, under-five mortality & crude death. This study indicated that health expenditure is an important element in attaining improved health outcome in Sub-Saharan African Countries. Therefore, increasing the amount of health expenditure allocated to the health sector yields a better health status. More on, revising policies to improve GDP per capita, immunization, urbanization and basic drinking water service, and strategies intended to reduce HIV prevalence and unemployment assure a better health outcome.

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Undernutrition and HIV Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Health Outcomes and Therapeutic Interventions

Current HIV/AIDS Reports ◽

10.1007/s11904-021-00541-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 87-97

Author(s):

Hubaida Fuseini ◽

Ben A. Gyan ◽

George B. Kyei ◽

Douglas C. Heimburger ◽

John R. Koethe

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Sub Saharan

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Impacts of Health Expenditure Financing on Infant Mortality and Diminishing Returns: Implications for Sub-Saharan Africa

GLOBAL BUSINESS & FINANCE REVIEW ◽

10.17549/gbfr.2020.25.4.25 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 25-32

Author(s):

Yoorim Bang ◽

Jinhwan Oh

Keyword(s):

Infant Mortality ◽

Health Expenditure ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Diminishing Returns ◽

Sub Saharan

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Synthesizing evidence on nutrition challenges among people living with HIV/AIDS in sub- Saharan Africa: a protocol for a scoping review

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20192871 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 3173 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tafadzwa Dzinamarira ◽

Moreblessing Chipo Mashora

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Nutritional Management ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Improve Health ◽

Hiv Aids

Background: Good nutritional status is highly significant for individuals who are infected with HIV. However, they still face a number of nutritional challenges. The proposed scoping review will map literature on the nutritional challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH. Here we outline a scoping review protocol designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P 2015 Guidelines).Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley’s 2005 scoping methodological framework further improved by Levac et al. 2010 will guide the search and reporting. Searches will be conducted for eligible articles from MEDLINE (PubMed), MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete and ISI Web of Science (Science Citation Index) electronic databases. Two independent reviewers will conduct the search guided by an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal of the included articles will be conducted guided by the mixed methods appraisal tool 2018 version. We will employ NVivo version 12 for thematic content analysis.Conclusions: The findings of this review will guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH in sub-Saharan African. This review will be disseminated electronically in a published peer reviewed article and in print.

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Are out‐of‐school adolescents at higher risk of adverse health outcomes? Evidence from 9 diverse settings in sub‐Saharan Africa

Tropical Medicine & International Health ◽

10.1111/tmi.13328 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 70-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jan‐Walter De Neve ◽

Omar Karlsson ◽

Chelsey R. Canavan ◽

Angela Chukwu ◽

Seth Adu‐Afarwuah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Out Of School

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Cohort profile: internal migration in sub-Saharan Africa—The Migration and Health in Malawi (MHM) study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014799 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. e014799 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Philip Anglewicz ◽

Mark VanLandingham ◽

Lucinda Manda-Taylor ◽

Hans-Peter Kohler

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Reference Group ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Extensive Information ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Use Of Health Services ◽

Migration And Health ◽

Selection Of

PurposeThe Migration and Health in Malawi (MHM) study focuses on a key challenge in migration research: although it has long been established that migration and health are closely linked, identifying the effect of migration on various health outcomes is complicated by methodological challenges. The MHM study uses a longitudinal panel premigration and postmigration study design (with a non-migrant comparison group) to measure and/or control for important characteristics that affect both migration and health outcomes.ParticipantsData are available for two waves. The MHM interviewed 398 of 715 migrants in 2007 (55.7%) and 722 of 1013 in 2013 (71.3%); as well as 604 of 751 (80.4%) for a non-migrant reference group in 2013. The total interviewed sample size for the MHM in both waves is 1809. These data include extensive information on lifetime migration, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, sexual behaviours, marriage, household/family structure, social networks and social capital, HIV/AIDS biomarkers and other dimensions of health.Findings to dateOur result for the relationship between migration and health differs by health measure and analytic approach. Migrants in Malawi have a significantly higher HIV prevalence than non-migrants, which is primarily due to the selection of HIV-positive individuals into migration. We find evidence for health selection; physically healthier men and women are more likely to move, partly because migration selects younger individuals. However, we do not find differences in physical or mental health between migrants and non-migrants after moving.Future plansWe are preparing a third round of data collection for these (and any new) migrants, which will take place in 2018. This cohort will be used to examine the effect of migration on various health measures and behaviours, including general mental and physical health, smoking and alcohol use, access to and use of health services and use of antiretroviral therapy.

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Chlamydia trachomatisInfection in Pregnancy: The Global Challenge of Preventing Adverse Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/9315757 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Kristina Adachi ◽

Karin Nielsen-Saines ◽

Jeffrey D. Klausner

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Infant Health ◽

Perinatal Transmission ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Global Challenge ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Adverse Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy

Screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in pregnancy represents an overlooked opportunity to improve the health outcomes of women and infants worldwide. AlthoughChlamydia trachomatisis the most common treatable bacterial STI, few countries have routine pregnancy screening and treatment programs. We reviewed the current literature surroundingChlamydia trachomatisin pregnancy, particularly focusing on countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. We discuss possible chlamydial adverse pregnancy and infant health outcomes (miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, neonatal conjunctivitis, neonatal pneumonia, and other potential effects including HIV perinatal transmission) and review studies of chlamydial screening and treatment in pregnancy, while simultaneously highlighting research from resource-limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

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Does economic freedom improve health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa?

International Journal of Social Economics ◽

10.1108/ijse-01-2020-0008 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (12) ◽

pp. 1633-1649

Author(s):

Anand Sharma

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Life Expectancy ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Economic Freedom ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Countries ◽

Content Type ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of economic freedom on four key health indicators (namely, life expectancy, infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate) by using a panel dataset of 34 sub-Saharan African countries from 2005 to 2016.Design/methodology/approachThe study obtains data from the World Development Indicators (WDI) of the World Bank and the Fraser Institute. It uses fixed effects regression to estimate the effect of economic freedom on health outcomes and attempts to resolve the endogeneity problems by using two-stage least squares regression (2SLS).FindingsThe results indicate a favourable impact of economic freedom on health outcomes. That is, higher levels of economic freedom reduce mortality rates and increase life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa. All areas of economic freedom, except government size, have a significant and positive effect on health outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThis study analyses the effect of economic freedom on health at a broad level. Country-specific studies at a disaggregated level may provide additional information about the impact of economic freedom on health outcomes. Also, this study does not control for some important variables such as education, income inequality and foreign aid due to data constraints.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that sub-Saharan African countries should focus on enhancing the quality of economic institutions to improve their health outcomes. This may include policy reforms that support a robust legal system, protect property rights, promote free trade and stabilise the macroeconomic environment. In addition, policies that raise urbanisation, increase immunisation and lower the incidence of HIV are likely to produce a substantial improvement in health outcomes.Originality/valueExtant economic freedom-health literature does not focus on endogeneity problems. This study uses instrumental variables regression to deal with endogeneity. Also, this is one of the first attempts to empirically investigate the relationship between economic freedom and health in the case of sub-Saharan Africa.

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