Road injuries, labor productivity, and economic growth in Africa: A panel study.

Background And Aims: Globally, millions of people suffer from road injuries, with Africa having the highest burden of road injury deaths. This public health problem has the potential to reduce labor productivity and hence hamper economic growth, especially on the African continent. This study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, therefore seeks to provide the first empirical evidence of the interaction or combined effect of road injuries and labor productivity on economic growth in African countries.

Financial inclusion and improved water usage among households in Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, about 76% of households are at risk of drinking water polluted with faecal matter, hence, poor sanitation and unsafe water are responsible for 80% of all diseases in the country. Given this, some studies have been carried out concerning the factors that determine access and use of improved water among households in Ghana. However, although financial inclusion can make it easy for households to afford and hence, use improved water, it has received very little attention.

The effects of selected neglected tropical diseases on economic performance at the macrolevel in Africa.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as leprosy, lymphatic filariasis (LF), schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis are endemic in several African countries. These diseases can lead to severe pain and permanent disability, which can negatively affect the economic productivity of the affected person(s), and hence resulting into low economic performance at the macrolevel. Nonetheless, empirical evidence of the effects of these NTDs on economic performance at the macrolevel is sparse.

The Choice of Healthy Source of Energy for Cooking Among Households in Ghana: Does Financial Inclusion Matter?

Air pollution resulting from the use of unhealthy/unclean energy sources for cooking causes illnesses such as lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischaemic heart disease. In Ghana, each year, about 18 000 deaths are recorded due to the use of unhealthy energy sources for cooking. While financial inclusion can influence the adoption of healthy energy sources for cooking, less attention has been paid to it.