Water, Sanitation, and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-national Analysis of Maternal and Neo-natal Mortality

We examine the impact of access to an improved water source and sanitation facility on maternal and neo-natal mortality. We analyze data from a sample of 32 Sub-Saharan African nations from 1990 to 2005 using a two-way fixed effects regression model. We find that access to both improved water and sanitation facilities are associated with decreased maternal and neo-natal mortality. We also consider other structural barriers or facilitators of good reproductive health and find that International Monetary Fund structural adjustment, gross domestic product per capita, female educational attainment, and conflict intensity are related to maternal and neo-natal mortality. We conclude by talking about the theoretical implications, methodological implications, policy suggestions, and directions for future research.