How Does Wealth Affect Health in Sub-Saharan Africa?

HOW DOES WEALTH AFFECT HEALTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA? While it's not surprising that industrialized countries fare better with respect to health than developing countries, the health and well-being of people in developing countries varies greatly. And national averages can hide disparities between the poorest and wealthiest groups. Consider two African countries: Niger, classified by the World Bank as a low-income country; and Ghana, a lower-middle-income country. WHEN INCOMES RISE, people are healthier and have smaller families. As income per person increases.... ..SO DOES LIFE EXPECTANCY NIGER 2010 GHANA 2010 55 64 GDP per capita $723 YEARS GDP per capita $1,625 YEARS ...MORE CHILDREN ARE BORN WITH THE CARE OF DOCTORS, NURSES, AND TRAINED MIDWIVES (deliveries attended by skilled health personnel) .FEWER CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5 DIE (deaths per 1,000 children under 5) 218 85 33% 59% NIGER GHANA NIGER GHANA ...WOMEN HAVE FEWER CHILDREN (children per woman) 7.0 4.1 NIGER GHANA YET NATIONAL AVERAGES HIDE DISPARITIES. The poorest 20% of the population in each country... .EARNS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL INCOME COMPARED WITH THE WEALTHIEST 20% 8% 43% 5% | 49% poorest wealthiest poorest wealthiest NIGER GHANA ..ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A CHILD DIE THAN WEALTHY FAMILIES (deaths per 1,000 children under 5) ...ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE GOOD CARE AT BIRTH (deliveries attended by skilled health personnel) 206 21% 71% 103 22% poorest poorest poorest poorest 157 60 94% wealthiest wealthiest wealthiest wealthiest NIGER GHANA NIGER GHANA ..HAVE LARGER FAMILIES (children per woman) 7.9 * 6.4 6.5 2.3 poorest wealthiest poorest wealthiest NIGER GHANA The wealth of individuals and of countries affects health status and use of health services. As countries develop economically, their people become healthier. But within any country, it is critical to focus attention on the poor, who have limited access to health services and are most vulnerable to poor health. Sources: PRB, Population and Eoonomio Development 2012 Data Sheet; ICF Maoro, Ghana Demographio and Health Survey 2008; and ICF Maoro, Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indioateurs Multiples du Niger 2006. © 2012 Population Reference Bureau. All rights reserved.