Ill-Health and Labor Market Outcomes in Uganda

Exploring the effects of poor labor outcomes on economic growth and poverty reduction

In Uganda, although the national health indicators look good, ill health is a growing problem in both rural and urban areas, particularly among the poor. The improvement health indicators have been largely brought about by efficiency gains rather than big increases in overall health sector resource envelope. Therefore, there is feeling among policy makers and researchers that if spending in the health sector is increased, the 75% preventable disease burden can be reduced enormously.

Indeed, evidence shows that ill-health affects labor market outcomes at the individual level. However, there is limited evidence on the link between ill-health and labor market outcomes in Uganda. The paucity of analytical work on the subject in Uganda imply that the empirical understanding that is necessary for designing and evaluating the cost effectiveness of policy interventions relating to the prevention and cure of disease is lacking in country where the productivity consequences of poor health are worse.

The consequences are worse because in Uganda, physical labor is the critical input, the majority of population live in rural areas, engage in non formal wage labor, and most work is directly or indirectly related to agriculture and is reliant on strength and stamina.

Last updated Wednesday, May 22, 2013