Abdulganiyu Salami
Federal University, Nigeria
Biography
Starting as a graduate assistant in 2012, Abdulganiyu Salami is currently a PhD student and a lecturer with Federal University Lafia. Nigeria. He did his Masters in Economics and Health Economics at The University of Sheffield, The United Kingdom. His research areas are Health Economics and Development Economics.
Abstract
High rate of child mortality is one of the major health problems confronting many developing countries. This is borne by high level of decadency in their health systems manifested by shortage of competent and qualified health personnel, inadequacy of medical equipment and drugs, poor planning and implementation of health programmes and red-tapism in the healthcare system. This study therefore investigated the effect of economic fluctuations on child mortality rates, using Nigerian time series data. The study used econometric tools of analysis like Augmented Dickey Fuller Unit Root Test, ARDL Bound test and Fully-modified ordinary least square regression. The study revealed that GDP per capita has significant and negative impact on neonatal, postnatal and under-5 mortalities. A one percent increase in GDP per capita leads to 12% decrease in neonatal mortality rates, 26% decrease in postnatal mortality rates and 23% decrease in under-5 mortality rates. It is therefore recommended that policy makers put in place policies that will improve GDP per capita, this will improve not only child health, but also increase the overall standard of living in the country.