INVESTIGATING THE LINK BETWEEN BIRTH RATE AND MATERNAL MORTALITY, ACCOUNTING FOR NIGERIA’S HEALTH CARE SPENDING AND POPULATION GROWTH

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14678830

Authors

  • Fadayomi, Akinwumi Festus Department of Statistics, Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Adebanjo Seun Department of Statistics and Data Science, Statistical Training and Consultation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
  • Ojeogwu, Okwudili Richard Department of General Studies, Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Anyebe, Phoebe Eikojonwa Department of Statistics, Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Olaleye Adebimpe Tosin Department of Library Unit, Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Nigeria

Keywords:

Birth Rate, Maternal Mortality, Healthcare Spending, Unit Root Test, OLS Regression, FMOLS

Abstract

Maternal mortality refers to fatalities resulting from pregnancy or childbirth, whereas the birth rate is defined as the number of live births per 1,000 individuals, both of which are prevalent in Nigeria and other worldwide economies. This work is unprecedented because it offers a fresh analysis of the link between birth rate and maternal mortality, considering Nigeria’ Health care spending and population growth, aspects that previous studies have not explored. We collected secondary data from 1990 to 2023 using World Bank development indicators. The unit root test was used to eliminate the potential for unit roots to generate spurious results. The FMOLS indicates that birth rate positively affects maternal mortality in the long term; however, the OLS regression reveals that birth rate significantly increases maternal mortality, whereas population growth negatively and significantly impacts maternal mortality. The correlation study revealed modest negative relationship between maternal mortality rate and health care spending. The graphical method illustrates the inverse relationship between maternal mortality and health care spending. Consequently, to enhance the professional management of pregnancy-related issues and to render family planning accessible for low-income Nigerians, the Nigerian government should allocate an adequate budget for health care services and medical personnel. This will assist in regulating the birth rate; hence, mitigating excessive population expansion and reducing the nation’s maternal mortality rate.

Published

2025-01-17

How to Cite

Fadayomi, A., Adebanjo, S., Ojeogwu, O. R., Anyebe, P. E., & Olaleye, A. T. (2025). INVESTIGATING THE LINK BETWEEN BIRTH RATE AND MATERNAL MORTALITY, ACCOUNTING FOR NIGERIA’S HEALTH CARE SPENDING AND POPULATION GROWTH. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Statistics, Mathematics and Engineering (IJIRSME), 12(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14678830

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2025): January – March

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Statistics, Mathematics and Engineering (IJIRSME)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

References

Adebanjo, S., Banchani, E., Mishiwo, S.H. and Sanusi, I. (2024). Determinants of Workers’ New Minimum Wage in Nigeria: Incorporating Nigeria’s current Economic Situation. Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics. 25(2), 75-100. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljas.v25i2.8128

Adesola, R. O., Opuni, E., Idris, I., Okesanya, O. J., Igwe, O., Abdulazeez, M. D., & Lucero-Prisno, D. E. (2024). Navigating Nigeria’s Health Landscape: Population Growth and Its Health Implications. Environmental health insights, 18, 11786302241250211. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302241250211

Aliyu, A. A., & Amadu, L. (2017). Urbanization, cities, and health: the challenges to Nigeria - a review. Ann Afr Med. 16:149-158. https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_1_17

Arthur, E., & Oaikhenan, H.E. (2017). The effects of Health expenditure on Health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Afr Dev Rev. 29(3), 524–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12287

Boundioa, J., & Thiombiano, N. (2024). Effect of public health expenditure on maternal mortality ratio in the West African Economic and Monetary Union. BMC Women's Health 24, 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02950-2

Douthard, R. A., Martin, I. K., Chapple-McGruder, T., Langer, A., & Chang, S. (2021). U.S. Maternal Mortality Within a Global Context: Historical Trends, Current State, and Future Directions, Journal of women's health. 30: 168–177. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8863.

Economist Intelligence Unit (2024). Demographic outlook for China, 2035. Available online: China's demographic outlook and implications for 2035, 2024 (Economist Intelligence Unit (eiu.com), 2024.

FMOH (2004). National Demographic and Health Survey. Abuja: National Population Commission.

Gilda, S., Henshaw, S., & Susheela, S. (2007). Induced abortion: estimated rates and trends worldwide. Lancet. 370(9595), 1338–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61575-X

Hitiris, T., & Posnett, J. (1992). The determinants and effects of health expenditure in developed countries. J Health Econ. 11(2), 173–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-6296(92)90033-w

Mollard, E., & Cottrell, C. (2023). Maternal Adaptive Capacity: A Strengths-Based Theory to Guide Maternal Health Research. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 68(3), 376–382. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13485

Nelson, D.B., Moniz, M.H. & Davis, M.M. (2018). Population-level factors associated with maternal mortality in the United States, 1997–2012. BMC Public Health 18, 1007. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5935-2

Novignon, J., Olakojo S.A, Nonvignon J. (2012). The effects of public and private healthcare expenditure on health status in sub-saharan Africa: new evidence from panel data analysis. Health Econ Rev. 2(1): 22-35. https://doi.org/10.1186/2191-1991-2-22

Novignon, J., & Lawanson, A. O. (2017). Health expenditure and child health outcomes in Sub-saharan Africa. Afr Rev Econ Finance. 9(1), 96–121.

Nwokocha, E. E. (2008). Maternal crises and the role of African men: The case of Nigerian Community. African Journal of Population Studies. 22: 1-10.

Okeke, E. C. Oluwuo, S. O. & Azil, E. I. (2016). Women's Perception of Males ‘Involvement in Maternal Health care in Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Health and Psychology Research. 1: 9–21.

Olonade, O., Olawande, T.I., Alabi, O.J. & Imhonopi, D. (2019). Maternal Mortality and Maternal Health Care in Nigeria: Implications for Socio-Economic Development, Open Access. Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 7(2): 849–855. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.041

Souza, J.P., Day, L.T., Rezende-Gomes, A.C., Zhang, J., Mori, R., Baguiya, A., Jayaratne, K., Osoti, A.D., Vogel, J.P., Campbell, O.M., Mugerwa, K.Y., Lumbiganon, P., Tunçalp, Ö., Cresswell, J., Say, L., Moran, A.C., & Oladapo, O.T. (2024). A global analysis of maternal health determinants and transitions in maternal mortality, The Lancet. Global health. 12: 306-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00468-0

UNICIEF (2015). United Nations International Children and Emergency Funds. Report on maternal mortality.

World Bank Group (2000). United Nations (UN), World health organization (WHO), and World Bank partners to combat maternal mortality. The World Bank Group, news-release no.2000/080/S.

World Factbook (2023). "Definitions and Notes - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov, 2023.

World Health Organization (2015). Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2015. Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, and the United Nations Population Division. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Available online: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/monitoring/maternal-mortality-2015/en/. Accessed on June 24, 2018.