The Effect of Household Waste Disposal on Household Health Expenditure in Ghana

Abstract

Improper disposal of household waste induces diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid among others which have consequences on healthcare expenditure in a developing country like Ghana. This study investigated the effect of household waste disposal on household health expenditure in Ghana and as well examined the socio-economic and demographic factors that influence healthcare expenditure among Ghanaian households. The study employed the Tobit estimation technique and data from the 7th Round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey conducted in 2016/2017 for all analysis. Our findings showed that relative to households that properly collect their refuse (solid waste) for final disposal by the local/district/waste management authority, households disposing off their refuse via burning, indiscriminate dumping and public dumping are more likely to spend on healthcare services. The findings also revealed that households with no toilet facility, households using pit latrine, KVIP and public toilet are more likely to spend on healthcare services compared to households using water closet. The study identified household income, age of the household head, household head’s years of education, household head’s illness reporting, hospitalisation of household head and gender of household head as significant factors predicting or influencing household health expenditures in Ghana. Based on the findings, the study recommends policy options be geared at providing and improving waste disposal and management facilities in households and communities alike via strong government and private collaboration, as well as implementing a more sustainable pro-poor and pro-aged healthcare financing policies, educational and awareness programmes on good health practices. Also, environmental health and sanitation policies such as the National Building Regulations 1996 (LI 1630) among others must be revisited and implemented.