The Effect of Public Health Spending on Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study provides empirical evidence linking Nigeria’s public health spending to maternal mortality using panel data analysis. The relationship is examined using panel data from 25 states in Nigeria between 2003 and 2008. Public health expenditure has a statistically significant effect on maternal mortality only in 2008 showing improvements in the effectiveness of public health expenditures. The findings of the study are in consonance to those reported in the literature. Apart from female literacy rate which neither has statistical significance effect nor conforms to apriori expectations, other factors like skilled birth attendants, female fertility rate, per capita health expenditures both for the state and for female of reproductive age is either statistically significant or conforms to apriori expectations. The conformity of the factors therefore to the theoretical expectations is not in juxtaposition to the high ratio of maternal mortality as Nigeria is currently ranked second to India. This shows that either the health policies are inefficient or that the budgetary allocations to the health sector are not judiciously utilized. It is based on these finding that policy measures are proffered for attaining the targets envisioned by the Millennium Development Goals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

Approval page---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii

Dedication-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii

Acknowledgement---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv

Table of contents------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v

List of tables and figures--------------------------------------------------------------------------------vi

Abstract---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of study--------------------------------------------------------------------------1

1.2 Statement of the problem-----------------------------------------------------------------------6

1.3 Objectives of the study--------------------------------------------------------------------------7

1.4 Research Questions------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

1.5 Statement of hypothesis-------------------------------------------------------------------------8

1.6 Justification of the study------------------------------------------------------------------------8

1.7 Policy Relevance---------------------------------------------------------------------------------9

1.8 Scope of the study--------------------------------------------------------------------------------9

CHAPTER TWO:

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Theoretical literature--------------------------------------------------------------------------------10

2.2 The Nigerian Health system-----------------------------------------------------------------------14

2.3 Empirical Literature-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

2.4 An Overview of maternal mortality vis-a-vis Nigerian Experience------------------------- 25

2.5 Limitations of previous study---------------------------------------------------------------------33

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. 1 Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------34

3.2 The model variables----------------------------------------------------------------------------36

3.3 The model Specification------------------------------------------------------------------------36

CHAPTER FOUR

 Presentation and Interpretation of Econometrics Results--------------------------------------- 38

4.1 Presentation of Panel Estimate Results ------- --------------------------------------------------41

4.2 Interpretation of Results----------------------------------------------------------------------------43

4.3 Evaluation of Research Hypotheses--------------------------------------------------------------45

vi

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Summary of Research Findings-------------------------------------------------------------------47

 5.2 Policy Implications of the findings--------------------------------------------------------------48

 5.3 Conclusions-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------51

 5.4 Limitations of the study---------------------------------------------------------------------------51

References------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------53