Author: Bolaji A. Adesoye, Olukayode E. Maku & Akinwande A. Atanda
Year:2012
Abstract: The unresolved debates on the precise link between health, employment and income stimulated the interest of this paper to examine the simultaneous and specificity effect of labour participation rate and income on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while controlling for the effect of population growth and the working age dependency rate. This paper examines how the simultaneous and specific effect of labour participation rate and income on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) stems from the unresolved debates on the precise link between health, employment and income. Utilizing panel data for 16 SSA countries cutting across Central, Eastern, Southern and West Africa between 1980 and 2010, the findings indicate that excessive labour participation by women leads to more incidences of death during pregnancy and child-birth; higher per capita income reduces the incidence of maternal mortality rate and prevalence of under-five mortality rate; increase in per capita income enhances overall health status, while labour participation deteriorates health status. It is suggested that government should create better welfare packages that will enhance per capita income; legislate maximum working hours required of female workers; and increase public health investment.