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Chasing the Youth Dividend in Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa: What Is the Role of Poverty in Determining the Health and Health Seeking Behaviour of Young Women?

Author

Listed:
  • Sibusiso Mkwananzi

    (Institute for Gender Studies, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0002, South Africa)

  • Ololade Julius Baruwa

    (Centre for Demographic Research, Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Abstract

Africa’s new source of hope lies in harnessing Demographic Dividend, which may create a window of economic opportunity as fertility levels decrease if the correct policies and programmes are put in place. It has been shown that the health status of young people should be optimal for the realisation of the demographic dividend. This study examined the association between poverty and the health status and health seeking behaviour of young women (15–25), using the Demographic Health surveys of Nigeria 2013, Malawi 2015–2016, and South Africa 2015–2016. Interest variables were household and community-levels of poverty, while the outcomes were pregnancy and HIV testing and health services seeking. Results showed that in Malawi only household poverty was associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy, while in South Africa household- and community-levels of poverty were associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy. In Nigeria, household- and community-levels of poverty were not significantly linked to pregnancy but were associated with a lower likelihood of HIV testing and health seeking behaviour. The study shows empirical evidence of the construction of negative health outcomes in poor households and communities in Nigeria, Malawi, and South Africa. Therefore, if the demographic dividend is to be a reality in the near future, it is imperative to ensure that poverty-alleviation urgently occurs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sibusiso Mkwananzi & Ololade Julius Baruwa, 2022. "Chasing the Youth Dividend in Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa: What Is the Role of Poverty in Determining the Health and Health Seeking Behaviour of Young Women?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14189-:d:958102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahmed, S. Amer & Vargas Da Cruz,Marcio Jose, 2016. "On the impact of demographic change on growth, savings, and poverty," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7805, The World Bank.
    2. Burger, Ronelle & Christian, Carmen, 2020. "Access to health care in post-apartheid South Africa: availability, affordability, acceptability," Health Economics, Policy and Law, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 43-55, January.
    3. Valerie Makoge & Harro Maat & Lenneke Vaandrager & Maria Koelen, 2017. "Health-Seeking Behaviour towards Poverty-Related Disease (PRDs): A Qualitative Study of People Living in Camps and on Campuses in Cameroon," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Blessing Jaka Akombi-Inyang & Emma Woolley & Chinonyerem Ogadi Iheanacho & Khulan Bayaraa & Pramesh Raj Ghimire, 2022. "Regional Trends and Socioeconomic Predictors of Adolescent Pregnancy in Nigeria: A Nationwide Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, July.
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