Nonfarm enterprise participation and healthcare expenditure among farm households in rural Ghana
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 14 August 2018
Issue publication date: 7 January 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Rural poverty remains high in many developing countries, Ghana inclusive. This has implications for healthcare affordability and utilization, and thus the attainment of universal health coverage. Nonfarm diversification is seen as a means by which rural farm households can increase incomes and smooth consumption including healthcare. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of nonfarm enterprise participation on healthcare expenditure among farm households in rural Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Using nationally representative household data from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 6), the paper employs endogenous switching regression and propensity score matching techniques to account for potential selectivity bias.
Findings
Results indicate that households that participate in nonfarm enterprises earn higher incomes and expend more on healthcare. Total household income and region of residence are significant determinants of healthcare expenditure among farm households in rural Ghana. In addition, while in nonfarm enterprise nonparticipating households the marital status of the head of household is important, for participating households the head having at least secondary education significantly influences healthcare expenditure.
Practical implications
Promoting nonfarm activities and hence raising the incomes of households in rural areas of Ghana has the potential of increasing health capital through increased investments in health. It will also positively impact access to and utilization of healthcare and ultimately contribute towards increased farm and non-farm productivity.
Originality/value
Previous studies have only examined the determinants of nonfarm enterprise participation or its impact on household welfare, poverty, inequality, food security and agricultural investments. While evidence abounds on the positive impact of rural nonfarm enterprise participation on household income, which in turn has implications for household health expenditure, the potential positive link between rural nonfarm enterprise participation and household healthcare expenditure remains unexamined.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors of this article have not made their research dataset openly available. Any enquiries regarding the dataset can be directed to the corresponding author.
Citation
Ampaw, S., Nketiah-Amponsah, E., Owoo, N.S. and Senadza, B. (2019), "Nonfarm enterprise participation and healthcare expenditure among farm households in rural Ghana", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 18-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-06-2017-0248
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited