Prevalence of HIV/AIDS as a Health Indicator on Productivity in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper analyzed empirically the impact of public health expenditure on productivity in Nigeria. The study employs econometric techniques to verify the time series properties and the relationship among HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, life expectancy rate and productivity in Nigeria. The findings revealed that maternal mortality rate and HIV/AIDS prevalence rate have a negative significant impact on productivity in the long run. Again, the life expectancy rate was found to have a positive significant effect on productivity. In the short run, the multiple regression results showed that public health expenditure has a positive insignificant impact on productivity in Nigeria. Also, the findings revealed that the maternal mortality rate has a negative insignificant effect on productivity in the short run. The study consequently proposes that more research be conducted to determine the root reason of the negative link between public health spending and productivity in Nigeria. To boost Nigerian productivity, the government should enhance public health spending and strengthen maternity healthcare facilities.