Adesoye BA and Babalola DA
Keywords: Nigeria, malaria, health policy, mortality rate, under-five
Abstract: The relationship between health policy on malaria and mortality rate expectancy especially among under-five (U5) in Nigeria has not been succinctly detailed in literature. This study examined the relationship between government expenditure (GE) on malaria (proxy for health policy), per capita income (GDPP, control variable) and U5 mortality rate expectancy using data from 2000 to 2015 obtained from the World Bank and WHO data base. The unit root test conducted showed that all the variables were not stationary at level. The Ordinary Least Square regression model was used and all analysis done at p<0.05. Results showed that there was consistent decline in mortality rate over the years under review despite the sharp increase in GE between 2006 and 2008. The coefficients of GE and GDPP have negative signs and statistically significant at 5% and 1% level, respectively. The result indicated that a percentage increase in government expenditure on malaria will lead to only 0.2% decrease in life U5 mortality. Based on the finding it was recommended that effort at enhancing awareness of the Roll Back malaria program is germane and improvement in government funding of malaria control strategies in the country should be prioritized.
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