Socioeconomic Determinants of Infant Mortality Rate in Asean: A Panel Data Analysis

Abstract

The infant mortality rate indicates the health status of a country. Previous studies have proven that socioeconomic factors have a significant influence on infant mortality rates in both developed and developing countries. Further studies on infant mortality rates are useful for public service strategic policy in the health sector. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the socioeconomic factors influencing infant mortality rates in ASEAN based on panel data estimates for 2000-2017. The dependent variable for this study was infant mortality rate, while the independent variables were health expenditure, female labor force, maternal fertility rate, and GDP per capita. The authors concluded that the main cause of infant mortality in ASEAN is care during delivery. Other influencing factors include family health status, maternal education level, and socio-economic inequality. This study found that the size of the female workforce has a strong influence on increasing the infant mortality rate in ASEAN. The fertility rate also had a strong influence on increasing infant mortality rate in ASEAN, while GDP per capita had a negative influence on infant mortality rate. Health expenditure is proven to have no effect on the increase of infant mortality rates in ASEAN.

Keywords

• infant mortality rate; socioeconomic factors; panel data; asean