Correlation Between Human Development Index and Infant Mortality Rate Worldwide

Abstract

Background: Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) is a vital index to monitor the standard of health and social inequality which is related to human development dimensions worldwide. Human development index (HDI) includes basic social indicators such as life expectancy, education and income. Objectives: The current study aimed to find the correlation between human development index and infant mortality rate. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study that represents the relationship of infant mortality rate with human development index and human development index dimensions was performed on the profiles of 135 countries worldwide [Africa (35 countries), America (26 countries), Asia (30 countries), the Pacific (2 countries) and Europe (42 countries)]. Two databases were used in the study: the world health organization (WHO) database (2010) and human development database (2010). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test by SPSS software. Results: The study found that socio-economic factors or human development dimensions are significantly correlated with risk of chance mortality in the world. The per capita income (r = -0.625), life expectancy (r = -0.925) and education (r = -0.843) were negatively correlated with the infant mortality rate; human development index (r = -0.844) was also negatively correlated with the infant mortality rate (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Human development index is one of the best indicators and predictors to perceive healthcare inequities. Worldwide improvement of these indicators, especially the education level, might promote infant life expectancy and decrease infant mortality. Keywords: Infant Mortality Rate, Education, Income, Life Expectancy, Human Development Index