OUR MOTHERS ARE DYING: TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN NIGERIA

Our mothers are dying! This paper examined time series analysis of macroeconomic variables and maternal health in Nigeria using annual time series data covering a period of 35 years, which is between 1990 and 2024. The study used Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM)as the dependent variable whereas Inflation (INF), Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPPC), Government Expenditure on Health (GEH), and Unemployment (UNEMP) were used as the independent variables. Data were collected from secondary sources and analyzed using descriptive statistics, unit root test, Co-integration and ECM modeling techniques. The results of the ECM show that Inflation (INF) increases Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM); GDP per capita (GDPPC) reduces Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM); Government Expenditure on Health (GEH) reduces Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM); and Unemployment (UNEMP) increases Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM) in Nigeria. The study therefore concluded thatInflation (INF) significantly increases Maternal Mortality Rate (MAM), indicating that rising prices may reduce household access to essential healthcare and nutrition for our mothers and also negatively impacts maternal health services in Nigeria within the period of study. The study therefore recommended amongst others that in order to improve maternal health and consequently reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria, governments are required to initiate and implement effective macroeconomic policies aimed at controlling inflation in order to safeguard household consumption of essential goods and health services, thereby reducing inflation-induced maternal mortality