Examining the Relationship between Access to Health Care and Socio-Economic Characteristics

The link between good health and the ability to work effectively to meet livelihood needs is established but the economic implications of the reverse have often not been estimated; also how this plays out for different gender and socio-economic groups is often not estimated. The chapter examines the health care access that rural households have and examine how it relates to their education and employment in various sectors. The study used Nigeria as a case study as such the General Household Survey Data for wave 4 was used. The data were analyzed using descriptive, and Tobit regression model. The results showed that labour hours worked (in agricultural, non-agricultural and non-household activities) has a negative relationship with health care access. Age and literacy (ability to read) is important in health care access and have positive relationships with it. The policy implication of the study is that educational infrastructure must be developed along-side health policy initiatives