Impact of Globalization, Women's Empowerment, and Maternal Health in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Abstract

Purpose of the study : Women's empowerment nowadays refers to encouraging women's feeling of self-worth, their ability to make their own decisions, and the right to impact their own and others' well-being. This research aims to look at the impact of globalization and women's empowerment on maternal health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology : The econometric method is based on a dynamic panel model that was applied to a sample of 37 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2017. For a deep analysis, the sample is separated into four subgroups. The results for the African context were obtained using the GMM estimator, whereas the results for the regions were obtained using the LSDV-corrected estimator. Main Findings : The study's findings show that foreign direct investment and women's empowerment have a significant impact on lowering maternal mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa's West, East, Center, and South. According to this study, globalisation is no longer limited to the exchange of goods and services between countries but also includes technological exchange, migration, and impacts on all sectors of activity. Research limitation : The study's main limitation is that it appears impossible to determine the exact impact of liberalising these services on health. The lack of data on a long series is also a challenge in this study. Future research will need to consider the long-term implications. Novelty/Originality of the study : This study is distinct from others in that it is not restricted to the general context of SSA. It captures the specific effect of various regions by employing econometric tools tailored to each region. This study adds to the empirical literature on the impact of globalisation and women's empowerment on maternal health in SSA countries.