Public Health Financing and Nigeria's Economic Growth Between 1980 and 2022: A Scoping Review

As Nigeria strives to address persistent public health challenges and achieve sustained economic development, understanding the dynamics between these two critical domains becomes paramount. This scoping review explores the intricate relationship between public health financing and Nigeria's economic growth over the period spanning from 1980 to 2022.
The methodology involved a comprehensive search of various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, using carefully selected search terms. Eligible studies encompassed a wide range of empirical research, policy documents, and reviews, focusing on the nexus of public health financing and economic growth within the context of Nigeria.
Findings revealed a growing body of literature that recognizes the interdependence of public health investments and economic development. The synthesis of evidence highlights diverse themes, including the impact of healthcare expenditure on Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government healthcare budget allocation, and the effectiveness of health financing strategies. Additionally, this scoping review identifies the predominant methodologies employed in existing research, providing insights into the analytical approaches that have been instrumental in studying this critical relationship.




While acknowledging the methodological diversity and the varying quality of evidence, this scoping review underscores the importance of continued research efforts in this field. It sheds light on knowledge gaps, the need for more rigorous empirical investigations, and the potential policy implications of improving public health financing for Nigeria's sustained economic growth and development.
The insights gathered from this scoping review are invaluable for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in public health and economics, as they inform future research directions, facilitate evidence-based decision-making, and ultimately contribute to the holistic advancement of Nigeria's public health and economic landscape.