Gender Differential Effects of Health Status on Growth Process in sub-Saharan Africa

Abayomi Ayinla Adebayo,Olufunmilayo Olayemi Jemiluyi

doi:10.32996/jefas.2021.3.2.4

Abayomi Ayinla Adebayo, Olufunmilayo Olayemi Jemiluyi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.32996/jefas.2021.3.2.4

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Abstract

This study examines the gender-disaggregated effect of health status on the growth trajectory of sub-Saharan Africa region. The renewed interest in the health status – economic growth nexus stems from the increasing recognition of the importance of health and gender roles in achieving economic growth and sustainable development, particularly in the developing regions of sub-Saharan Africa characterized by poor health, gender inequality and low growth. Health status is proxy by gender-disaggregated data on life expectancy at birth. The study employs the generalized method of moment (GMM) modelling technique, and the result shows that there is gendered differences in the effect of health status on the economic growth process of sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, we find that female life expectancy is positively associated with economic growth. Thus, the study recommends that efforts aimed at promoting health wellbeing in the region should be enhanced. In particular, policies geared towards bridging the gender gap in health should be enacted and implemented.

Highlights

1 The increasing waves of empirical and theoretical research have unveiled the unequivocal roles of health in achieving economic growth and sustainable development (Bloom, Kuhn & Prettner, 2015; Adedeji & Akinlo, 2016)
The renewed interest in the health status – economic growth nexus stems from the increasing recognition of the importance of health and gender roles in achieving economic growth and sustainable development, in the developing regions of sub-Saharan Africa characterized by poor health, gender inequality and low growth
The study employs the generalized method of moment (GMM) modelling technique, and the result shows that there is gendered differences in the effect of health status on the economic growth process of sub-Saharan Africa

Summary

Introduction

1 The increasing waves of empirical and theoretical research have unveiled the unequivocal roles of health in achieving economic growth and sustainable development (Bloom, Kuhn & Prettner, 2015; Adedeji & Akinlo, 2016). There has been an increasing global acceptance of focal roles of health in achieving sustainable development and ameliorating poverty, evidenced in the remarkable growth of health aids, the inclusion of health-specific goals in global developmental programs and increasing volume of health research (World Bank, 2014, 2017). The twin problems of poor health and low growth in sub-Saharan Africa economies have birthed a large quantum of empirical and theoretical investigations of the contributions of health to the growth process in the region. The high burden of diseases coupled with a poor healthcare system in the region had led to poor health capital characterized by high morbidity rate, high mortality rate, low life expectancy, poor maternal and child health indicators (World Development Indicators {WDI], 2019)

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