Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health
ISSN: 3065-9078 | DOI: 10.64030/3065-9078
Lawal Olamilekan Abdulwahab and Hafiz Bubari Umar
This study investigates the relationship between governance quality and health outcomes in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), focusing on maternal and infant mortality and healthcare access disparities. Utilizing a panel dataset spanning 2001 to 2024 with two (2) different advanced econometric techniques: Heteroskedasticity Panel Corrected Standard Error (HPCSE) and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), for the analysis, the analysis highlights the critical role of quality governance (regulatory quality, government effectiveness, control of corruption, and rule of law). The findings reveal that governance quality significantly impacts health outcomes, with improvements in governance associated with reductions in maternal mortality rates across the ECOWAS region. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the rule of law is a critical factor in moderating the adverse effects of income inequality on healthcare accessibility, underscoring its role in promoting equitable healthcare delivery. The findings of this study emphasize that strengthening the governance system is essential in addressing healthcare inequities and improving health outcomes across the region. The study therefore suggests enhancing governance efficiency, increasing public health expenditure, and implementing anti-corruption measures to ensure equitable resource distribution and improve health outcomes. The study contributes to the field of health economics by integrating governance factors and robust econometric modeling to provide actionable insights for policymakers across the ECOWAS region.