PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE, ENVIROMENTAL POLLUTION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines public health expenditure, environmental pollution and health outcomes- using infant mortality rate as proxy. Data was sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria and National Bureau of statistics from the period 1981 to 2021. A test of stationarity of the variables using- Unit Root Tests (ADF and P-P Tests) were examined coupled with a test of the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship using the Johansen Co-integration Test. Afterward, an Error Correction Model (ECM) technique were applied in the study. Other diagnostic tests such as Residual Diagnostic Test, Serial Correlation LM Test and Histogram Normality Test were conducted to further validate the credibility of the model. The findings from the results showed that carbon (iv) oxide and gas flaring do not have significant effect on infant mortality rate as they were not statistically significant at 5% level. HIV showed negative impact on infant mortality which means the variables do not have direct effect on infant mortality. On the other hand, public health expenditure showed positive impact on infant mortality rate due to corrupt practices in the health sector. The study recommends that, expenditure on healthcare should be efficient and accountable. Also, government should create more or intensify public awareness program on pollution and HIV. Overall, the study identified a significant connections between health expenditure and health outcomes, and a weak relationships between environmental pollution and health outcomes in Nigeria.