Research on Health Cooperation Features of the 'Belt and Road' Countries in the Perspective of Complexity Theory - A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

Background The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a systematic program that promotes the establishment of the human community of shared destiny. However, the lack of an explicit understanding of the difference among the Belt and Road nations impedes the precise health cooperation. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing health cooperation and recognize these countries' characteristics. Methods According to the Complexity Theory and literature retrievals, major influential factors of international health cooperation were identified and are employed in the two-step clustering in SPSS 22.0 to organize these countries for the recognition of their features. Findings According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) health index and Human Development Index (HDI) level, cooperation level and country risk rating, diplomatic association and numbers of health cooperation mechanisms, a total of 62 countries are classified into three categories: 16 have few health needs, weak cooperation foundation, and low cooperation risk; 22 possess high health needs, good cooperation relationship, yet high cooperation risk; the remaining 24 nations are featured with general health needs and cooperation relation, good cooperation foundation, and low cooperation risk. Interpretation The cooperative features can be identified by SDG Health Index, HDI Level, Cooperation Degree, Country Risk Rating, Diplomatic Relationship, and the number of established health mechanisms. According to their different health needs, cooperative foundation, cooperation risk, and bilateral relationship, health cooperation should be separately initiated. Funding: National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center. Declaration of Interest: We declare no competing interests.