Traditional Pooled Data Estimates of the Socio-economic Determinants of Maternal Mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: Case Study of MDG Era

Abstract

The study focuses on the socio-economic determinants of maternal mortality in SSA with the broad objective of investigation the contributions of selected socio-economic factors to maternal deaths in the region. A panel of 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa based on data availability covering the MDG era (1995-2015) was cautiously analyzed using the traditional pooled panel estimators (fixed and random effects). This generated remarkable elasticity estimates valuable for policy intervention. The fixed and random effects results revealed a profound contributions of socio-economic variables to maternal mortality in SSA. Log of labour force participation rate for women, the log of one period lag of life time risk of maternal mortality, log of female employment rate, log of per capita health expenditure, log of fertility rate all proved to be significant determinants of maternal mortality in SSA. In addition, the log of HIV prevalence among women and the log of one period lag of secondary school enrolment as a proxy for education also demonstrated to be significant determinants of maternal deaths. Only GNI per capita showed a weak relationship with maternal mortality. This means that GNI may not be useful significantly when policy measures are taken to address maternal deaths in SSA.

Keywords: Traditional pooled data estimator, socioeconomic variables, MDG era, SSA