The objective of this study is to examine how macroeconomic policies have shaped health outcomes in Sierra Leone, particularly with regard to access to healthcare services. The study also examines how these health outcomes vary by income and geographical location.The introduction of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in Sierra Leone after the civil war in 2005 has witnessed a major shift in macroeconomic policies, which has had a negative impact on the population’s access to healthcare services. Additionally, government social sector cuts, escalating costs of healthcare services, corruption and mismanagement have all contributed to dwindling access to healthcare services in Sierra Leone. The foregoing impact is captured in the results of countrywide demographic and health surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013. These surveys highlight a series of grim statistics relative to several social indicators in Sierra Leone.
For instance, Sierra Leone ranks among the highest in the world in infant and maternal mortality rates. Moreover, a life expectancy of 45 years qualifies Sierra Leone as the country with the lowest life expectancy rate in the world. This study found that variations in income, education and geographical location all have an impact on access to healthcare services in Sierra Leone. As far as income is concerned, the study found a positive relationship between income and access to healthcare services. And the less educated an individual is, the less he or she has access to healthcare services. Further, generally, urban residents tend to have more access to healthcare services than their counterparts in rural areas.