Impact of Child Healthcare Investment on Infant Mortality in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the impact of healthcare investment on infant mortality in Nigeria. Secondary data covering the period from 1995 to 2023 were used for the study. The data set were first tested for stationarity properties to avoid spurious regression estimates using Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test. In addition, the study employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) Bound test technique to ascertain long-run relationship between public healthcare investment and infant mortality as well as examine the impact of healthcare investment relating to child support programmes (CSPINV), children immunization (IMMINV), improving Nutrition (NUTINV) and education (EDUINV) on infant mortality in Nigeria. The ARDL Bound testing confirmed that, there is long-run relationship between healthcare expenditure and infant mortality in Nigeria for the period of study. The ARDL long-run coefficients further confirmed that, public investment on child support programmes (CSPEX) and improving Nutrition (NUTINV) exhibited long run
positive impact on infant mortality in Nigeria. On the other hand, public investment on children immunization (IMMINV) and education (EDUINV) exhibited long-run negative impact on child mortality in Nigeria. The estimated co integration error correction term (ECT) was negative and statistically significant indicating that, the speed of adjustment at which the previous year’s shock of the explanatory variables converging back to the long-run equilibrium in the current year is approximately 31%. In line with the findings, the study recommended for the Nigerian government to make concerted efforts towards proper health-fund coordination to enhance nutrition security, corroborate with traditional, non-governmental as well as international organization to intensify sensitization on immunization programs and activities, mobilize and monitor disbursement of funds meant to finance programmes that will support child rights, healthy development and general wellbeing of the children.