This article assessed the association between financial inclusion and nutrition among 987 rural households in two districts of Zimbabwe. Poisson and negative binomial regressions were used for model estimations. Financial inclusion increased dietary diversity and food consumption by 12 and 14 per cent, respectively. Using concentration indices, our results show pro‐rich advantages in financial inclusion and household nutrition. Promoting inclusive financial services among rural and poorer households is crucial. This can be achieved through establishing microfinance and agency banking in rural areas. Promoting pro‐poor financial inclusion strategies, for example reduction of transaction and banking fees, is important to enhance equity. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Background: Understanding the magnitude of inequalities and drivers for reducing genderrelated health inequalities is crucial in developing countries. This is particularly the case for Liberia with its very high level of gender-related inequalities in health and health outcomes. Objective: This paper assesses the magnitude of gender health inequalities and the relative contribution of different factors to health inequality in Liberia. Methods: Data came from the Liberian Household Income Expenditure Survey 2014. A two stage sampling methodology was used and 4,104 households were randomly selected and interviewed. The main variable of interest is dichotomised, good versus poor self-assessed health. Gender-related health inequality is assessed using the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition for non-linear models. The decomposition reveals the magnitude of inequality and contributions of different factors. Results: We found large gender disparities (0.054, p < 0.01) characterised by women disadvantages in health status. In addition, the gender health disparities are mostly pronounced in rural areas. About 54% of the gender inequalities in health status were explained by the differences in endowments. Equalizing access to information, wealth and utilization of mosquito nets would reduce the gender gaps by 44, 5 and 4%, respectively. Conclusions: Addressing gender health inequalities inter alia requires access to health information (i.e. electronic and print media), gender responsive interventions that improve wealth in key sectors (i.e. education, employment, social protection, housing, and other appropriate infrastructure). In addition, the government, private sector and civil society should ensure that the health sector provides access to quality mosquito nets and improved health services including preventive care in order to reduce disease burden.
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