Justice Opare Odoi

Submitted: 12 February 2026 You are already at the latest version This study examines the political determinants of health access in Africa by analyzing how democratic demand, democratic supply, and perceptions of government health performance shape reported difficulty in accessing health care. We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-country analysis using pooled individual-level data from Afrobarometer Round 8 (2019–2021), comprising 45,589 adult respondents across 34 African countries.

Submitted: 22 December 2025 You are already at the latest version This study addresses four major gaps in existing research on poverty and health in Africa. First, prior studies rarely consider moderation effects, particularly how age shapes the link between poverty and health outcomes. Second, research often focuses on isolated health indicators, overlooking broader institutional factors such as healthcare access systems and corruption.

Submitted: 19 December 2025 You are already at the latest version Background: Persistent poverty and the residential environment both significantly affect how Africans experience the healthcare system. However, evidence on the interaction of these factors on perceived access to healthcare is limited.Methods: This analysis used pooled data from the Afrobarometer Round 8 surveys across 34 African countries (n ≈ 46,885 adults) to assess perceived ease or difficulty of obtaining necessary healthcare.