AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION ON EXCHANGE RATE VOLATILITY AND MATERNAL MORTALITY: A SIMULTANEOUS MODEL APPROACH FOCUSING ON NIGERIA

Purpose: The issue of exchange rate volatility and maternal mortality rate has rarely been considered in a single study by research scholars and economists over the years as very few, if any empirical studies have been carried out to explain the relationship between these two variables. Consequently, this study used an empirical examination to ascertain if there exists a relationship between exchange rate volatility and maternal mortality rate.Findings: The results indicated that exchange rate and maternal mortality rate both have negative impacts on each other which is statistically significant. Also, the female education enrolment reduces maternal mortality rate while the recurrent health expenditure causes it to rise, albeit not statistically significant.Contributions to theory, policy and practice: The study, therefore, recommends that the foreign exchange control policies must prioritize both foreign sector and domestic balance of the economy. The government should also focus on capital health expenditure as well as encouraging policies that will encourage female education enrolment in Nigeria.