Transport Connectivity and Health Care Access : Evidence from Liberia

Iimi, Atsushi ; Rao, Kulwinder

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: RURAL ROADS;    HEALTH CARE ACCESS;    HEALTH FACILITY;    TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY;    EXTERNAL SHOCK;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8413
RP-ID  :  WPS8413

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Health care access is an importantpolicy concern, especially in rural areas. It is especiallychallenging in developing countries, where rural residentsare poorer and less likely to be insured than those livingin urban areas. Using the case of Liberia, this paperexamines the effects of transport connectivity on healthcare access. The Ebola crisis in 2014 and 2015 clearlyrevealed the vulnerability of the country's transportand health systems to unexpected external shocks. Payingparticular attention to the possible challenge ofendogeneity associated with infrastructure investment, thestudy found that transport connectivity, especially greaterroad density, can increase access to health care, but therewas no significant effect of road quality. This may bebecause of significantly skewed underlying data. The vastmajority of roads in Liberia are in poor condition. Thestudy also found that the statistical effect of road densityvaries depending on distance from a health facility. Theeffect is particularly significant within a 30- to50-kilometer radius. Not only rural accessibility, but alsobroader transport connectivity needs to be developed toincrease health care access.