Secondary Education and its Effects on Child Health: Empirical Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experience higher under-five mortality compared to other regions. This study examines the effect of lagged parent’s secondary education on child health outcome in sub-Saharan Africa countries. It applies the System GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) estimator for 17 years period from 2000 to 2016 using a panel data of 33 selected countries. The findings show strong evidence that lagged parent’s secondary education; income (GDP per capita) and measles immunization have significant effects on improvements of child health in sub-Saharan Africa. Increasing an access to secondary education in the region has achieved better child health status over the period 2000-2016. Lagged parent’s education skills acquired in leaving secondary school are the most important channels that affect child health. The findings suggest expanding and strengthening secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa to meet a Sustainable Development Goal target (SDG) in reducing under-five mortality by the year 2030.