Publications
Our research has been published in top journals, and we are currently working on interesting cutting-edge topics.
Mineral wealth paradox: health challenges and environmental risks in African resource-rich areasBMC Public Health 24, 724 (2024)
Africa is blessed with vast arable land and enriched with valuable natural resources encompassing both renewable (like water, forests, and fisheries) and non-renewable (such as minerals, coal, gas, and oil). Under the right conditions, a natural resource boom should serve as an important driver for growth, development, and the transition from cottage industry to factory output. However, despite its wealth, Africa is often associated with the notion of a resource curse. Negative outcomes are often linked with mineral wealth. This paper investigates the causes of adverse health outcomes in resource-rich regions. The study provides empirical support for the natural resource curse with particular emphasis on the environmental health risks in Africa. We explore the multifaceted connections among mineral deposits, environmental risks, conflict events and population dynamics, shedding light on the complexities of resource-rich areas.
Health insurance subscription as a factor to hospital visits among women: A Hierarchical analysis of Ghana’s Demographic and Health Survey Data
Healthcare accessibility and financing is a major factor to achieving SDG target 3 and 1. The study investigated the relationship between health insurance subscription and healthcare facility utilization among Ghanaian women. The 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data (DHS) was used for the study. The results indicated that 70% of women visited the health facility in the last year. The results from the binary logistics regression revealed a strong positive relationship between insurance acquisition and healthcare facility utilization. The results was robust to a large set of confounders. From the study, around 39% of Ghanaian women are without any form of insurance coverage and those in rural areas utilized the facility less compared to those in urban areas. It was further realized that women’s healthcare needs (hospital visits) is influenced by her partner, household, and barriers to healthcare accessibility. Based on this, the study recommends that there is the need for public awareness on the benefits to the woman as well as their partners.
Forthcoming: BMC Public Health​
The interplay between Interest rate and Economic Growth in the US
The study in accessing how real interest rate affects economic growth in the US employed quarterly data from 1984 to 2021. Using the Vector Autoregressive Model, the study found out that a unit increase in real interest rate would at its first lag cause economic growth to increase. However, its impact is not statistically significant but a unit increase in real interest rate at its second lag have a statistical significant negative impact on economic growth at the 5percent significance level. The study also found that there is a bi-causal relationship between real interest rate and economic growth in the US. However, there is no causal relationship between the lag of real gross domestic product and real gross domestic product.
Financial development and Poverty Alleviation: is Financial development in Sub-Sahara Africa pro poor
The study investigated how financial development in Sub-Sahara Africa affects poverty levels by employing a new financial development index developed by the International Monetary Fund. Data from 1981 to 2019 from 39 sampled African countries were employed. Using the fixed-effect model, the study found that there is a negative relationship between financial development and poverty levels at the 1 percent significance level. The study further showed that there is a negative between gross domestic product per capita and poverty levels. However, population and government consumption have a positive relationship with poverty levels. Moreover, in accounting for trends and lag sensitivity of poverty the study concluded that financial development negatively affect poverty levels, but financial development does not have a statistical significant relationship when using the fixed effect model unlike the random effect model when accounting for trends.
Awareness of Obstetrics Fistula and its Associated Factors among Reproductive-Aged Women: Demographic And Health Survey Data From Gambia
Childbirth complications is a major factor to maternal and neonatal mortalities. It is well known in literature that awareness (signs and symptoms) of such complications is beneficial since it results in early detection and treatment. The study assesses the awareness of obstetric fistula among Gambian women and its associated factors using a binary logistics regression. Obstetric fistula is one of the most common complication in mothers during labor over years. The study found that approximately 87% of women are unaware of fistula. This may have an adverse effect on African countries’ quest to mitigate obstetric fistula as women in Gambia are more likely to stay home rather than seek medical intervention (improving sexual reproductive health). The study recommends competent institutions to strengthen health educations programs aimed at raising awareness on maternal complication.
Forthcoming: Plos One