Poverty and Quality of Healthcare in Africa

Abstract Given the state of healthcare delivery in Africa, this study investigates how poverty influences the quality of healthcare services received by individuals patronising government hospitals across African countries. Using wave 9 of Afrobarometer survey data, which covers 39 countries, and an OLS estimation method, we find that an individual's poverty status significantly correlates with the quality of healthcare received. This is evident in aspects such as the adequacy of medical supplies and drugs, the absence of medical staff at their duty posts, waiting times for medical services, the quality of medical facilities at these centres and the degree of respect accorded those who patronise these health facilities by medical staff. The effect of poverty on healthcare service quality is contingent upon contact with public health facilities, rather than merely the presence of such facilities in the neighbourhood. The results remain robust to alternative estimation methods, variations in dependent and poverty variables, control for social desirability bias, and inclusion of numerous control variables. This study provides compelling evidence for interventions that not only directly improve individual economic outcomes but also enhance healthcare service delivery, which should, in turn, positively associated with both health and economic well-being.