The impact of HIV/AIDS expenditure on health outcomes in Sub-Sahara African countries
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Date
2015
Authors
Ndung'u, Gabriel Waweru
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Over the last three decades, the global HIV/AIDS prevention community has developed
a portfolio of proven strategies that can be deployed to reduce the risk of acquiring or
transmitting HIV. The response to HIV/AIDS pandemic is related to international
health outcomes with three of the eight millennium development goals being allied to
increase spending on health issues. In Africa, funds have been channeled to subsidize
the delivery of AIDS education and health care service which will benefit citizens in
improving health status, raising literacy as well as expand opportunities for economic
and social wellbeing. At the end of 2011, 0.8 percent of adults were living with HIV
globally, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 69 percent of people who were living
with HIV worldwide. This represented a significant increase from 1990 where the HIV
prevalence rate was 0.21 percent. The incidence rate has also revealed a rising trend. In
1990, incidence rate was 0.03 percent and in 2011, the rate stood at 0.04 percent. On
the other hand, there has been a rising trend in HIV/AIDS expenditure from $ 4 Billion
in 2002 to $ 17.1 Billion in 2008. Even though many resources have been used to
combat HIVIAIDs in sub-Saharan African countries, the actual effect of this spending
has not yet been empirically assessed. The main objective of this study was to establish
the effect of HIV/AIDS expenditure on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. To
achieve the specific objectives of this study, HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, HIV/AIDS
Incidence rate and HIV related mortality rate were regressed on HIV/AIDS
expenditure, number of people tested, number of antiretroviral therapy, preventions of
mother to child transmissions, doctor population and literacy rates. The study adopted a
longitudinal research design whereby data from 11 sub-Saharan countries on
HIV/AIDS expenditure and health outcomes over a number of years was analyzed. The
study conformed to a number of studies that have shown that there is a relationship
between HIV/AIDS expenditure and health outcomes. The study recommended
increase HIV/AIDS expenditure allocations that will in turn lead to improved health
outcomes in sub-Sahara African countries.
Description
A research project submitted to the department of applied economics in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of masters of economics (finance) of Kenyatta University