An Analysis of Inter-relationship between Maternal Mortality and Development in Low Human Development Countries

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to examine the inter-relationship between Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) with human and economic development in 15 Low Human Development (LHD) countries. The study is purely based on secondary sources of data. The correlation, regression, normality test and factor analysis have been used to interpret the data. It has found from the bi-variate correlation that in LHD countries, only Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) has significant relationship with Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), and none of other parameters have significant association with MMR. It has found from the factor and regression analysis that GDP per capita and gender inequality have significantly determined the level of MMR. Accordingly, in LHD countries still income has major role in determination of MMR and gender issues also play considerable role in determination of MMR. As it has been identified, income is a necessary condition for reduction of MMR. Therefore, in LHD countries, there is a need to increase income at foster rate in order to fight against high level of MMR. And there is also need to reduce the gender inequality to reduce the MMR.