Globalization and infant and child mortality in ECO member countries

Abstract

Objective (s): Globalization and health indicators have been the focus of many investigators worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate on the effect of globalization on infant and child mortality in ECO member countries. Methods: The present study was performed with a macroeconomic approach. Globalization data on infant and child mortality were extracted from the World Bank and from 2002 to 2018 ECO countries. The models were estimated in Stata 14 software by data panel regression method with random effects. Results: The results showed that although the effect of public and private expenditures was increased and reduced deaths, the effect of private health expenditures was quite significant (P=0.004). Regarding the effect of the Globalization Index, the effect of the Social Globalization Index was significant (P < 0.0001). However, the effect of the Economic Globalization Index was not significant (P=0.088). Finally, the effect of the Political Globalization Index was also insignificant on infant mortality in ECO member countries. Conclusion: Overall, it can be concluded that globalization improved the health indicators as a result of reduced infant and children mortality.

Keywords

• globalization
• infant mortality
• mortality of children under age 5
• eco member countries
• data panel method.