Browsing by Author "Mussa, R."
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Item Health and vulnerability to poverty in Ghana: evidence from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 5(2012-05-06) Novignon, J.; ; Mussa, R.; Chiwaula, L.S.Abstract Background An understanding of the complex relationship between health status and welfare is crucial for critical policy interventions. However, the focus of most policies in developing regions has been on current welfare to the neglect of forward-looking welfare analysis. The absence of adequate research in the area of future poverty or vulnerability to poverty has also contributed to the focus on current welfare. The objectives of this study were to estimate vulnerability to poverty among households in Ghana and examine the relationship between health status and vulnerability to poverty. Method The study used cross section data from the Fifth Round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 5) with a nationally representative sample of 8,687 households from all administrative regions in Ghana. A three-step Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) estimation procedure was employed to estimate vulnerability to poverty and to model the effect of health status on expected future consumption and variations in future consumption. Vulnerability to poverty estimates were also examined against various household characteristics. Results Using an upper poverty line, the estimates of vulnerability show that about 56% of households in Ghana are vulnerable to poverty in the future and this is higher than the currently observed poverty level of about 29%. Households with ill members were vulnerable to poverty. Moreover, households with poor hygiene conditions were also vulnerable to future poverty. The vulnerability to poverty estimates were, however, sensitive to the poverty line used and varied with household characteristics. Conclusion The results imply that policies directed towards poverty reduction need to take into account the vulnerability of households to future poverty. Also, hygienic conditions and health status of households need not be overlooked in poverty reduction strategies.Item The poverty and inequality nexus in Ghana: A decomposition analysis of household expenditure components(International Journal of Social Economics, 2018-02) Novignon, J.; Nonvignon, J.; Mussa, R.Purpose Understanding the linkages between poverty and inequality is vital to any sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies. In Ghana, while poverty has reduced significantly over the years, inequality has increased. The purpose of this paper is to examine the linkages between inequality in household expenditure components and overall inequality and poverty in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Using microdata from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 6) conducted in 2012/2013, marginal effects and elasticities were computed for both within- and between-component analysis. Findings The results suggest that, in general, reducing within-component inequality significantly reduces overall poverty and inequality in Ghana, compared with between-component inequality. Specifically, inequality in education and health expenditure components were the largest contributors to overall poverty and inequality. The findings imply that policies directed toward reducing within-component inequality will be more effective. Specifically, the findings of the study corroborate recent policies on education and health in Ghana aimed at inequality within these components. Sustaining and scaling up these policies will be a step in the right direction. Originality/value The study contributes to existing studies in several ways: first, this study becomes the first attempt to examine inequality-poverty nexus using household expenditure components in Ghana. Second, the use of expenditure in place of income is an addition to the literature. Income is usually subject to reporting biases and is minimal in expenditure. Finally, the findings highlight the need for poverty reduction strategies to focus on specific household components including education and health. Blanket interventions may not be effective in reducing inequality and poverty.Item The use of non-prescription medicine versus self assessed health: evidence from Malaw(International Archives of Medicine, 2011) Novignon, J.; Mussa, R.; Msonda, T.; Nonvignon, J.Background: The use of medicine is an important part of any health care process and the improvement of health status of any population. While some medicines are legitimately prescribed by practitioners, others take drugs not prescribed by practitioners when they suffer from illness or injuries. The effect of such actions on the health of individuals cannot be overlooked. Even though majority of health policies in developing countries have focused on chronic diseases and the functioning of health systems, abuse of drugs or medicines is a serious population health problem that deserves equal attention. The objectives of the current study are to examine the social and economic dimensions of the use of non-prescription medicines and to determine the effect it has on self-assessed health of individuals. Methods: The study employs data from the second Integrated Household Survey of Malawi with a sample of 2506 individuals who reported an incidence of illness or injury over the past two weeks before the survey. Regression analysis is conducted at two levels, first is a probit model to identify socio-economic factors that influence the use of non-prescription medicine. The second step uses an ordered probit to model the effect of the use of non prescription medicines on self-assessed health of individuals. Results: Results from the probit model show that availability of a health facility in the community negatively affects the use of non-prescription medicines. Age of the individual and the total household health expenditure relate to higher use of non-prescription medicine. Results from the ordered probit model shows that individuals who used non-prescription medicines were likely to report lower categories of self-assessed health. Conclusions: While policy makers need to engage in public campaign to educate the population on the health risks posed by the use of non-prescription medicines, attention also has to be paid to the social and economic characteristics of the population. Efforts to provide health facilities in communities where they do not exist and improve existing ones will be a crucial step in reducing the use of non-prescription medicinesItem The use of non-prescription medicine versus self-assessed health: Evidence from malawi(International Archive of Medicine, 2011) Nonvignon, J.; Mussa, R.; Msonda, T.; Nonvignon, J.Background: The use of medicine is an important part of any health care process and the improvement of health status of any population. While some medicines are legitimately prescribed by practitioners, others take drugs not prescribed by practitioners when they suffer from illness or injuries. The effect of such actions on the health of individuals cannot be overlooked. Even though majority of health policies in developing countries have focused on chronic diseases and the functioning of health systems, abuse of drugs or medicines is a serious population health problem that deserves equal attention. The objectives of the current study are to examine the social and economic dimensions of the use of non-prescription medicines and to determine the effect it has on self-assessed health of individuals. Methods: The study employs data from the second Integrated Household Survey of Malawi with a sample of 2506 individuals who reported an incidence of illness or injury over the past two weeks before the survey. Regression analysis is conducted at two levels, first is a probit model to identify socio-economic factors that influence the use of non-prescription medicine. The second step uses an ordered probit to model the effect of the use of nonprescription medicines on self-assessed health of individuals. Results: Results from the probit model show that availability of a health facility in the community negatively affects the use of non-prescription medicines. Age of the individual and the total household health expenditure relate to higher use of non-prescription medicine. Results from the ordered probit model shows that individuals who used non-prescription medicines were likely to report lower categories of self-assessed health. Conclusions: While policy makers need to engage in public campaign to educate the population on the health risks posed by the use of non-prescription medicines, attention also has to be paid to the social and economic characteristics of the population. Efforts to provide health facilities in communities where they do not exist and improve existing ones will be a crucial step in reducing the use of non-prescription medicinesItem The use of non-prescription medicine versus self-assessed health: evidence from Malawi(International Archives of Medicine, 2011) Novignon, J.; Mussa, R.; Msonda, T.; Nonvignon, J.Background: The use of medicine is an important part of any health care process and the improvement of health status of any population. While some medicines are legitimately prescribed by practitioners, others take drugs not prescribed by practitioners when they suffer from illness or injuries. The effect of such actions on the health of individuals cannot be overlooked. Even though majority of health policies in developing countries have focused on chronic diseases and the functioning of health systems, abuse of drugs or medicines is a serious population health problem that deserves equal attention. The objectives of the current study are to examine the social and economic dimensions of the use of non-prescription medicines and to determine the effect it has on self-assessed health of individuals. Methods: The study employs data from the second Integrated Household Survey of Malawi with a sample of 2506 individuals who reported an incidence of illness or injury over the past two weeks before the survey. Regression analysis is conducted at two levels, first is a probit model to identify socio-economic factors that influence the use of non-prescription medicine. The second step uses an ordered probit to model the effect of the use of non prescription medicines on self-assessed health of individuals. Results: Results from the probit model show that availability of a health facility in the community negatively affects the use of non-prescription medicines. Age of the individual and the total household health expenditure relate to higher use of non-prescription medicine. Results from the ordered probit model shows that individuals who used non-prescription medicines were likely to report lower categories of self-assessed health. Conclusions: While policy makers need to engage in public campaign to educate the population on the health risks posed by the use of non-prescription medicines, attention also has to be paid to the social and economic characteristics of the population. Efforts to provide health facilities in communities where they do not exist and improve existing ones will be a crucial step in reducing the use of non-prescription medicines.