THE IMPACT OF HEALTH EXPENDITURE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA
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Abstract
This research examines how health expenditure influences maternal mortality in Nigeria
by utilizing annual data from 2000 to 2022. Despite various reforms and investments in
the health sector, maternal mortality continues to be a significant public health issue in
Nigeria. The study explores the effects of key indicators such as Government Health
Expenditure (expressed as a percentage of GDP), Out-of-Pocket Expenditure, Literacy
Rate (serving as a proxy for female educational attainment), Workforce Migration Index
(indicating health worker migration), and Fertility Rate on the Maternal Mortality Ratio
(MMR). The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling approach is used, given
its appropriateness for analyzing variables that are integrated at different orders, I(0)
and I(1). The findings reveal both short-term and long-term relationships between the components of health expenditure and maternal mortality. In particular, government health spending exhibits a negative correlation with maternal mortality, indicating that increases in public investment can lead to reductions in MMR over time. Conversely, high out-of-pocket expenses and increasing fertility rates are linked to higher maternal mortality, highlighting deficiencies in financial risk protection and reproductive health services. The study concludes that to achieve substantial decreases in maternal mortality in Nigeria, sustained increases in government health funding, a reduction in household healthcare costs, and enhancements in female education are crucial. Recommended policies include bolstering the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), addressing the migration of health workers, and broadening maternal health initiatives aimed at atrisk populations
by utilizing annual data from 2000 to 2022. Despite various reforms and investments in
the health sector, maternal mortality continues to be a significant public health issue in
Nigeria. The study explores the effects of key indicators such as Government Health
Expenditure (expressed as a percentage of GDP), Out-of-Pocket Expenditure, Literacy
Rate (serving as a proxy for female educational attainment), Workforce Migration Index
(indicating health worker migration), and Fertility Rate on the Maternal Mortality Ratio
(MMR). The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling approach is used, given
its appropriateness for analyzing variables that are integrated at different orders, I(0)
and I(1). The findings reveal both short-term and long-term relationships between the components of health expenditure and maternal mortality. In particular, government health spending exhibits a negative correlation with maternal mortality, indicating that increases in public investment can lead to reductions in MMR over time. Conversely, high out-of-pocket expenses and increasing fertility rates are linked to higher maternal mortality, highlighting deficiencies in financial risk protection and reproductive health services. The study concludes that to achieve substantial decreases in maternal mortality in Nigeria, sustained increases in government health funding, a reduction in household healthcare costs, and enhancements in female education are crucial. Recommended policies include bolstering the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), addressing the migration of health workers, and broadening maternal health initiatives aimed at atrisk populations
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