Open AccessEffects of maternal mortality on gross domestic product (GDP) in the WHO African region
Author(s) -
Joses Muthuri Kirigia,
Doyin Oluwole,
Germano Mwabu,
Doris Gatwiri,
Lenity H Kainyu
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
african journal of health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2306-1987
pISSN - 1022-9272
DOI - 10.4314/ajhs.v13i1.30821
Subject(s) - gross domestic product , per capita , economics , real gross domestic product , human capital , gross private domestic investment , infant mortality , mortality rate , investment (military) , demographic economics , demography , developing country , population , production (economics) , monetary economics , economic growth , return on investment , macroeconomics , open ended investment company , sociology , politics , political science , law
WHO African region has got the highest maternal mortality rate compared to the other five regions. Maternal mortality is hypothesized to have significantly negative effect on the gross domestic product (GDP). The objective of the current study was to estimate the loss in GDP attributable to maternal mortality in the WHO African Region. The burden of maternal mortality on GDP was estimated using a double-log econometric model. The analysis is based on cross-sectional data for 45 of the 46 Member States in the WHO African Region. Data were obtained from UNDP and the World Bank publications. All the explanatory variables included in the double-log model were found to have statistically significant effect on per capita gross domestic product (GDP) at 5 % level in a t-distribution test. The coefficients for land (D), capital (K), educational enrollment (EN) and exports (X) had a positive sign; while labor (L), imports (M) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) were found to impact negatively on GDP. Maternal mortality of a single person was found to reduce per capita GDP by US $ 0.36 per year. The study has demonstrated that maternal mortality has a statistically significant negative effect on GDP. Thus, as policy-makers strive to increase GDP through land reform programs, capital investments, export promotion and increase in educational enrollment, they should always remember that investment in maternal mortality-reducing interventions promises significant economic returns.