Women's Health, Economic Health: A Cross-National Study of Nine sub-Saharan Countries

Abstract

This article analyzes whether a country's investment in comprehensive women's healthcare translates into increased economic growth and economic output. Very few studies consider the possible direct correlation between the physical health of a country's women and a country's economic productivity. This study fills part of this gap by examining the health status of women in nine sub-Saharan African countries, using World Health Organization data over various time periods dependent on data availability. Health status was then compared to each country's economic growth, derived from measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Income (GNI), and the Human Development Index (HDI). The data show that where women's health status is high, economic growth is high, and where women's health status is low, economic growth is low. In conclusion, we must ensure women's health, not only for the sake of ethics, but also for the sake of building economically strong countries where all people can thrive.