Explore the vast range of titles available.

Indonesia has made improving the access to health workers, especially in rural areas, and improving the quality of health provider's key priority areas of its next five-year development plan. Significant steps and policy changes were taken to improve the distribution of the health workforce, in particular the contracted doctors program and later the contracted midwives program, but few studies have been undertaken to measure the actual impact of these policies and programs. This book is part of the inputs prepared at the request of the government of Indonesia's national development agency, Bappenas, to inform the development of the next national development plan 2010-14. Other inputs include reports on health financing, fiscal space for health, health public expenditure review, and assessments of maternal health and pharmaceuticals. Study findings highlight the importance not only of improving the supply of health care, but also of improving quality, so as to improve health outcomes. Over the period studied, important gains in the determinants of health outcomes have occurred in Indonesia. At the same time, however, the study shows that Indonesia, despite the significant gains, continues to suffer from serious challenges in the number and distribution, and in particular the quality, of its health workers.

Background This article examines the association between population density, maternal mortality, and under-5 mortality in countries throughout the world, as well as the mediating impacts of the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index (UHC-SCI). Methods The World Health Organization’s website provided data on maternal mortality and the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index for the years 2000–2020. The World Bank database included information on population density and under-5 mortality rates for nations between 2000 and 2020. Panel regressions were used to examine the association between population density and maternal and under-5 mortality in each nation, as well as the mediating influence of the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index, while accounting for economic, environmental, and medical factors. Finally, data is divided into regressions based on World Bank member countries’ income levels to examine heterogeneity. Results The study included 175 countries and found a significant negative correlation between population density, maternal mortality, and under-5 mortality ( B = -1.015, -1.146, P  < 0.05). The Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index mediated this relationship ( B = -1.044, -1.141, P  < 0.05). Conclusions Increasing population density in countries around the world has helped to reduce maternal and child mortality. As population density has increased, so has the level of the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index, which has proven effective in lowering maternal and under-5 mortality. Governments should plan interventions to build basic health facilities and allocate resources to health services based on population density, level of economic development, and the current state of their health systems, with the goal of stabilizing the rate of change in maternal and under-5 mortality and, eventually, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Background Life expectancy is a vital indicator of a country’s health and progress. Low-income countries face uncertainty regarding the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by health expenditure levels, concerns over rising child mortality rates, and decreasing per capita income. These factors challenge life expectancy and demand urgent attention. This study aims to identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities to improve life expectancy in these countries through better health policies and resource allocation. Methods The research investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, health expenditure, per capita income, and child mortality rates on life expectancy in low-income countries. By examining 22 years of data from 20 countries, using a comprehensive dataset from the Our World in Data database, this study employs panel regression and time series analysis to explore how these factors influence life expectancy. Results The findings indicate a significant negative effect of COVID-19 on life expectancy, while health expenditure and per capita income show a positive impact. Conversely, child mortality rates exert a negative effect on life expectancy in low-income countries. Conclusion This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by analysing how COVID-19, health expenditure, per capita income, and child mortality collectively affect life expectancy in low-income countries. The insights gained may inform policymakers and health consultants about the need for targeted interventions, prioritising healthcare investment and child health. By addressing these critical areas, it may be possible to improve life expectancy and overall health outcomes, thus contributing to global health equity.

Background Despite the declining trends worldwide, infant and child mortality rates are still high in many African countries. These high rates are problematic; therefore, this study attempts to explore the contributing factors that cause high infant and child mortality rates in 14 African countries using panel data for the period of 2000–2018. In particular, the role globalisation is explored. Methods The panel corrected standard error (PCSE), the Feasible generalized least square (FGLS) models, and the pair-wise Granger causality test have been applied as methodological approaches. Results The public health expenditure, numbers of physicians, globalization, economic development, education, good governance, and HIV prevalence rate have been revealed as the determinants of infant and child mortality in these countries. All these variables except the HIV prevalence rate negatively affect the infant and child mortality rates, while the HIV prevalence rate is found to be positive. Bidirectional and unidirectional causal relationships between the variables are also attained. Conclusions Effective socio-economic policy priority with due consideration of globalization should be emphasized to reduce infant and child mortality rates in these countries.

This paper empirically examines factors related to social, economic, demographic and health care services that affect health status in Pakistan. The analysis is conducted using ARDL bound testing approach on annual data ranging from 1960 to 2014. It is estimated that health spending has a significant impact on health status, specifically, development health spending and income are robust predictors of health status for the population in Pakistan and is seen to affect female life expectancy positively in both the short and in long run, however, it is important to note that the impact of income per capita is relatively stronger than that of public health spending. Total fertility rate (fr) appears to have a significant effect on child mortality rate (cmr) with a negative sign both in the short and in long-run. This result is especially important for developing countries like Pakistan where population growth is high and infant deaths are frequent. Bidirectional causality exists between infant and child mortality and fertility rate; these results are supported by the modern economic theory of population. The effect of medical personnel availability on health status, particularly in reducing infant and child mortality, remains statistically non-significant despite the bidirectional causal relationship between this variable and the infant and child mortality. Nutrition appears to be causally related to life expectancy and child mortality. Thus, it is important for the Government of Pakistan to design its policies based on the development targets in addition to the growth targets that have been set in place for the country.

Background. There are few published data describing the mortality burden associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children in low- and middle-income countries and particularly from Africa and settings with high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods. We modeled the excess mortality attributable to influenza (seasonal and pandemic) and RSV infection by applying Poisson regression models to monthly all-respiratory and pneumonia and influenza deaths, using national influenza and RSV laboratory surveillance data as covariates. In addition, we estimated the seasonal influenza– and RSV-associated deaths among HIV-infected and -uninfected children using Poisson regression models that incorporated HIV prevalence and highly active antiretroviral therapy coverage as covariates. Results. In children <5 years of age, the mean annual numbers of seasonal influenza– and RSV-associated all-respiratory deaths were 452 (8 per 100 000 person-years [PY]) and 546 (10 per 100 000 PY), respectively. Infants <1 year of age experienced higher mortality rates compared with children 1–4 years of age for both influenza (22 vs 5 per 100 000 PY) and RSV (35 vs 4 per 100 000 PY). HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected children <5 years of age were at increased risk of death associated with influenza (age-adjusted relative risk [aRR], 11.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.6–12.6) and RSV (aRR, 8.1; 95% CI, 6.9–9.3) infection. In 2009, we estimated 549 (11 per 100 000 PY) all-respiratory influenza A(H1N1)pdm09-associated deaths among children aged <5 years. Conclusions. Our findings support increased research efforts to guide and prioritize interventions such as influenza vaccination and HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries with high HIV prevalence such as South Africa.

Child mortality is one of the important factors to reflect sustainable development for any nation. It is common sense now that child mortality rate depends on medical services platform and its quality. To predict model under-five child mortality rates in India, multiple linear regression analysis was used. Identifying the factors that affects the under-five child mortality. To examine the relationship between all the variables along with recognize the problem of multicollinearity in the variables. In this study our fitted multiple linear regression model found that under five child mortality rates in India are influenced by tuberculosis case detection rate, measles death rate and hepatitis immunization rate. To choose appropriate model ACI score is used.

Background: As the Millennium Development Goals campaign (MDGs) came to a close, clear evidence was needed on the contribution of the worldwide MDG campaign. Objective: We seek to determine the degree of difference in the reduction rate between the pre-MDG and MDG campaign periods and its statistical significance by region. Design: Unlike the prevailing studies that measured progress in 1990-2010, this study explores by percentage how much MDG progress has been achieved during the MDG campaign period and quantifies the impact of the MDG campaign on the maternal and under-five child mortality reduction during the MDG era by comparing observed values with counterfactual values estimated on the basis of the historical trend. Results: The low accomplishment of sub-Saharan Africa toward the MDG target mainly resulted from the debilitated progress of mortality reduction during 1990-2000, which was not related to the worldwide MDG campaign. In contrast, the other regions had already achieved substantial progress before the Millennium Declaration was proclaimed. Sub-Saharan African countries have seen the most remarkable impact of the worldwide MDG campaign on maternal and child mortality reduction across all different measurements. In sub-Saharan Africa, the MDG campaign has advanced the progress of the declining maternal mortality ratio and under-five mortality rate, respectively, by 4.29 and 4.37 years. Conclusions: Sub-Saharan African countries were frequently labeled as 'off-track', 'insufficient progress', or 'no progress' even though the greatest progress was achieved here during the worldwide MDG campaign period and the impact of the worldwide MDG campaign was most pronounced in this region in all respects. It is time to learn from the success stories of the sub-Saharan African countries. Erroneous and biased measurement should be avoided for the sustainable development goals to progress.

Background Child mortality rates are considered to be one of the key indicators of child health. Aims The main objective of this research was to calculate child mortality rates (CMRs) indirectly, using census data, and to investigate using spatial pattern analysis the presence of any clustering patterns among provincial regions. Methods The Trussell version of the Brass method and Coale-Demeny West model were used to estimate CMRs and life expectancy (LE) at birth. The analyses were performed using the QFive program of MORTPAK 4 software. For cluster analysis, local and global Moran's I indexes were measured. Results Infant mortality rate, under-5 mortality rate, 1-4 mortality rate and LE at birth were estimated as 21.9, 26, 4.1 (deaths per 1000 live births) and 72.1 years, respectively. Global Moran's I index was calculated as 0.09, 0.09, 0.08 and 0.12, respectively. Conclusion Special attention must be paid in provinces with high clusters regarding the evaluation of public health programmes, and the cause of failure of these programmes in reduction of childhood mortality indices. Keywords: child mortality rate, infant mortality rate, spatial clustering, Islamic Republic of Iran, life expectancy.

A negative association between birth interval length and infant and child mortality has been consistently identified in modern developing countries. The reasons for this association are unclear, however. Leading hypotheses linking interval length to mortality fall into four broad categories—sibling competition, maternal depletion, infection transmission, or unobserved maternal factors—but none has received overwhelming support. Using data from Stockholm between 1878 and 1926, this study identifies trends in the relationship over time, controlling for unobserved maternal heterogeneity, and exploiting sibling deaths to better understand the mechanisms at work. Results show that the association disappeared over time as infectious disease mortality fell and that deaths of previous siblings during the postnatal period disproportionately tended to increase the risk of dying among index children born after short intervals. These findings strongly suggest the relationship is related to the transmission of disease between closely spaced siblings.