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Socioeconomic differential in self-assessment of health and happiness in 5 African countries: Finding from World Value Survey

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  • Oluwafunmilade Adesanya A.
  • Bomar Mendez Rojas
  • Amadou Darboe
  • Idrissa Beogo

Abstract

Objective: Factors that contribute to wealth related inequalities in self-rated health (SRH) and happiness remains unclear most especially in sub-Saharan countries (SSA). This study aims to explore and compare socioeconomic differentials in SRH and happiness in five SSA countries. Methods: Using the 2010/2014 World Values Survey (WVS), we obtained a sample of 9,869 participants of age 16 and above from five SSA countries (Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe). Socioeconomic inequalities were quantified using the concentration index. The contribution of each predictor to concentration index’s magnitude was obtained by means of regression based decomposition analysis. Results: Poor SRH ranges from approximately 9% in Nigeria to 20% in Zimbabwe, whereas unhappiness was lower in Rwanda (9.5%) and higher in South Africa (23.3%). Concentration index was negative for both outcomes in all countries, which implies that poor SRH and unhappiness are excessively concentrated among the poorest socioeconomic strata. Although magnitudes differ across countries, however, the major contributor to wealth-related inequality in poor SRH is satisfaction with financial situation whereas for unhappiness the major contributors are level of income and satisfaction with financial situation. Conclusions: This study underscores an association between wealth related inequalities and poor SRH and unhappiness in the context of SSA. Improving equity in health, as suggested by the commission of social determinants of health may be useful in fighting against the unfair distribution of resources. Thus, knowledge about the self-rating of health and happiness can serve as proxy estimates for understanding the distribution of health care access and economic resources needed for well-being in resident countries.

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  • Oluwafunmilade Adesanya A. & Bomar Mendez Rojas & Amadou Darboe & Idrissa Beogo, 2017. "Socioeconomic differential in self-assessment of health and happiness in 5 African countries: Finding from World Value Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0188281
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188281
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    1. Yuri Sasaki & Yugo Shobugawa & Ikuma Nozaki & Daisuke Takagi & Yuiko Nagamine & Masafumi Funato & Yuki Chihara & Yuki Shirakura & Kay Thi Lwin & Poe Ei Zin & Thae Zarchi Bo & Tomofumi Sone & Hla Hla W, 2022. "Association between Happiness and Economic Status among Older Adults in Two Myanmar Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Les Africains, sont-ils heureux ? « Retour au rire » en temps de guerre, de famine et de misère [Are Africans happy? 'Return to laughter' in times of war, famine and misery]," MPRA Paper 112941, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Idrissa Beogo & Amadou Darboe & Oluwafunmilade A Adesanya & Bomar Mendez Rojas, 2018. "Choosing between nurse-led and medical doctor-led from private for-profit versus non-for-profit health facilities: A household survey in urban Burkina Faso," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Woong Lee & Ran Im, 2023. "An Empirical Assessment of the Interactionist Model: The Relationship Between Household Income and Depression Among Retirees in Korea," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 729-751, April.
    5. Keiko Kabasawa & Junta Tanaka & Yumi Ito & Kinya Yoshida & Kaori Kitamura & Shoichiro Tsugane & Kazutoshi Nakamura & Ichiei Narita, 2021. "Associations of physical activity in rural life with happiness and ikigai: a cross-sectional study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Are Africans happy? 'Return to laughter' in times of war, famine and misery," MPRA Paper 112940, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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