The Impact of Armed Conflict on Access to Health Care in Ethiopia: Evidence from Young Lives

Tassew Woldehanna (), Marta Favara () and Nardos Chuta ()
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Tassew Woldehanna: Department of Economics, Addis Ababa University
Marta Favara: University of Oxford
Nardos Chuta: Young Lives Ethiopia

No 19070, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: This study examines how armed conflict in Ethiopia (2020–2023) affected access to general and maternal health care, using Young Lives longitudinal data matched with ACLED conflict records and qualitative evidence collected in 2025. Overall, 26.2% of respondents reported conflict-related barriers to health care, while 23.6% of new mothers experienced difficulties accessing maternal services. Greater exposure to conflict events or fatalities significantly increased the likelihood of unmet general health care needs. Maternal health care was particularly affected in 2020. Qualitative findings highlight damaged facilities, staff and medicine shortages, transport disruptions, unavailable maternal services, and missed vaccinations. The findings underscore the need to protect health facilities and workers, sustain medicine supplies and referral systems, and ensure timely care during conflict.

Keywords: armed conflict; access to health care; Ethiopia; ACLED; Young Lives; maternal health services; conflict exposure; health-system resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I15 O15 P48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-11
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