scholarly journals Inequalities and convergence of health outcomes in South Asian countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
Sumit Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Convergence Clubs ◽  
Policy Measures

For human development of South Asian countries, which houses more than one-fifth of world’s population, it becomes crucial to study health inequalities between and within these countries. The aim of this paper is to explore the extent of health inequalities and convergence of health outcomes as represented by life expectancy and infant mortality rates among the South Asian countries. The statistical methods Gini coefficient, ?, and ?-convergence analysis are utilized to study inequalities and convergence-divergence, which are well established in macro-economic growth analyses. For the study longitudinal data over the period 1996-2012 for Infant Mortality rate (IMR) and Life expectancy (LE) is utilized. The results of the analysis indicate that there have been large inequalities in IMR and these are still increasing among the countries. However, in case of LE the inequalities are small and are on decline over the period of time. Further, the tests for convergence reveal that the IMR and LE have not been converged in the period 1996-2012 and no convergence clubs has been formed. The present analyses high-lights that the relative positions of countries among the South Asia have changed little and the trend of large inequalities among the countries continues. Further research to identify economic and social policy measures which decline the large inequalities among the countries can be rewarding exposition for all the stakeholders.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(2) 2015: 71-76

Health Inequalities in South Asia at the Launch of Sustainable Development Goals: Exclusions in Health in Kerala, India Need Political Interventions

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
CU Thresia
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Development Goals

Despite substantial progress in social development during the post-colonial period, health inequalities in the South Asian countries were staggering, with reduced life expectancy, higher maternal and child mortality, and gender discrimination. Notably, even with the rapid economic growth during the neoliberal period, India fares below most of the South Asian countries in several health indicators. The Indian state of Kerala stands out with social sector gains; nevertheless, evidence indicates widening health inequalities, restricted public arenas, and undemocratic practices in health, particularly in the context of increasing market logic in the health and social arenas shaping health. The caste, class, gender, and ethnic ideologies and patriarchal power structure interwoven in the sociopolitical, cultural, moral, and health discourses similar to the South Asian context raise serious inequalities for health. At the launch of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, the populations with lingering privations and forbidden freedoms for gaining better health in Kerala, similar to South Asia, were largely the dalits, ethnic and religious minorities, and women. This necessitates greater political interventions, recognizing the interacting effects of history, culture, social factors, politics, and policies on health. And public health research needs to underscore this approach.

scholarly journals Analysing the performance of health systems in Asian countries: What Myanmar can learn from Bangladesh and Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curt Löfgren ◽  
Zin Mar Win
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health System ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
English Language ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Asian Countries

Abstract Background Advancements in medicine leads, among other things, to increasing life expectancy. However, at the same time, health care costs are increasing, and this may not be sustainable in the future. Governments and health care organizations need to implement efficiency measures in order to maximize health outcomes within available resources. This study aims to compare the technical efficiency of health systems in Asian countries, and to identify “efficient peers” for each “inefficient country”: in particular, for Myanmar. Methods A DEA variable returns to scale output-oriented model was used to evaluate technical efficiency in thirteen Asian countries. The input variables were current health expenditure per capita, the density of doctors, and the density of nurses and midwifery personnel. Two output variables, health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and the infant mortality rate were (IMR) analysed separately. Myanmar may learn how to improve efficiency of its health care system through studying its efficient peers from DEA results. A review of relevant English language literature was used as a basis for informing a comparative analysis of the health systems of Myanmar and its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Results Among the thirteen Asian countries studied, 38.5% and 53.8% of countries were technically efficient when HALE and IMR were used as the measured output respectively. More countries were efficient at reducing IMR than increasing HALE. Myanmar is one of the most inefficient countries, and it should look at the health systems of its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam, to make its health system technically more efficient. Conclusions The results of this study suggested that countries with inefficient health systems can improve their health outcomes without increasing their health care resources. As DEA measures efficiency only, future studies should take into account equity to assess comprehensive health system performance.

scholarly journals Analyzing the technical efficiency of health systems in Asian countries: What Myanmar can learn from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zin Mar Win ◽  
Curt Löfgren
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health System ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Middle Income

Abstract Background: Advancements in medicine leads, among other things, to increasing life expectancy and quality of life. However, at the same time, health care costs are increasing, and this may not be sustainable in the future. Governments and health care organizations need to implement efficiency measures in order to maximize health outcomes within available resources. This study aims to compare the technical efficiency of health systems in middle-income Asian countries, and to identify “efficient peers” for each “inefficient country”: in particular for Myanmar. Methods: A data envelopment analysis (DEA) variable returns to scale output-oriented model was used to evaluate technical efficiency in middle-income Asian countries. The input variables were current health expenditure per capita, the density of doctors, and the density of nurses and midwifery personnel. The output variables were health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and the infant mortality rate (IMR). Myanmar may learn how to improve efficiency of its health care system through studying its efficient peers from DEA results. A review of relevant English language literature was used as a basis for informing a comparative analysis of the health systems of Myanmar and its efficient peers: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.Results: Among the twenty-eight middle-income Asian countries studied, 39.3% of countries were technically efficient. Myanmar is one of the inefficient countries, and it should look at the health systems of its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to make its health system technically more efficient.Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that countries with inefficient health systems can improve their health outcomes without increasing their health care resources. As DEA measures efficiency only, future studies should take into account equity to assess comprehensive health system performance.

scholarly journals Socio-Demographic Determinants Of Fertility Behaviour Of Women: Evidence From A Panel Study Of Four South Asian Countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Fauzia Maqsood ◽  
Ummel Baneen
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate ◽  
Fertility Behaviour ◽  
First Marriage ◽  
Age At First Marriage ◽  
Contraceptive Prevalence

This paper aimed at estimating the socio-demographic determinants of fertility behaviour among women by using panel data of four developing countries of Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal) for the years 1994-2013. All these countries are currently on third stage of demographic transition. The researcher used age at first marriage of female (AFMF), Contraceptive Prevalence rate (CPR), Educational Attainment of Female (EAF) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) as proxy measures of Socio-demographic factors that determine the fertility behaviour of women in South Asian countries. On the first step the researcher used descriptive statistics to know the average and variance values in data. On the second step Panel Least Square (OLS) method was used to estimate the relationship between the variables. Results of present study revealed that age at first marriage of female, contraceptive prevalence rate and educational attainment of female were negatively associated with total fertility rate, while, Infant mortality rate was positively related with total fertility rate. It was concluded that efforts could be placed on these socio-demographic variables to control or to regulate fertility behaviour of women.

Analyzing the technical efficiency of health systems in Asian countries: What Myanmar can learn from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zin Mar Win ◽  
Curt Löfgren
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health System ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Middle Income

Abstract Background: Advancements in medicine leads, among other things, to increasing life expectancy and quality of life. However, at the same time, health care costs are increasing, and this may not be sustainable in the future. Governments and health care organizations need to implement efficiency measures in order to maximize health outcomes within available resources. This study aims to compare the technical efficiency of health systems in middle-income Asian countries, and to identify “efficient peers” for each “inefficient country”: in particular for Myanmar. Methods: A data envelopment analysis (DEA) variable returns to scale output-oriented model was used to evaluate technical efficiency in middle-income Asian countries. The input variables were current health expenditure per capita, the density of doctors, and the density of nurses and midwifery personnel. The output variables were health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and the infant mortality rate (IMR). Myanmar may learn how to improve efficiency of its health care system through studying its efficient peers from DEA results. A review of relevant English language literature was used as a basis for informing a comparative analysis of the health systems of Myanmar and its efficient peers: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.Results: Among the twenty-eight middle-income Asian countries studied, 39.3% of countries were technically efficient. Myanmar is one of the inefficient countries, and it should look at the health systems of its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to make its health system technically more efficient.Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that countries with inefficient health systems can improve their health outcomes without increasing their health care resources. As DEA measures efficiency only, future studies should take into account equity to assess comprehensive health system performance.

scholarly journals Mortality level and trend in South Africa and their Implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 53-62
Author(s):  
K. A. KYEI ◽  
P. GAVHI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
South African ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Critical Measure ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Credible Information

Mortality is a critical measure of population’s health and public health systems. Infant mortality, for example, indicates quality of life, accessibility to primary healthcare and the overall health status of a country. Reduction in infant mortality shows improvement in the health status. No credible information about mortality in South Africa because the two previous censuses’ data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) were not reliable, this study makes attempt to bridge the gap in the lack of knowledge. Th is study uses South African General Household Survey (SAGHS) data, to fi nd the level and trend of mortality and their implications. Data for the years, 2012, 2013 and 2015, have been used. Demographic and statistical methods, including an evaluation of data quality using UN joint score, and construction of model life tables. The results indicated that the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 43 per 1000 in 2012, 36 per 1000 in 2013 and 21 per 1000 in 2015. Th is study further indicated that the general health status of South African population improved marginally from 2012 to 2015 because the life expectancy in creas ed by 7 years for the males, and by 8 years for females, between those years. The study results that SAGHS data are reliable, mortality is decreasing with increasing life expectancy. The study recommends that more proactive measures need to be put in place to improve the health status of the population, especially the children because the IMR is still quite high and creates concerns.

scholarly journals Features of machine learning in the study of the main factors of development of countries of the world

2021 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Ludmila Borisova ◽  
Galina Zhukova ◽  
Anna Kuznetsova ◽  
Julie Martin
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Infant Mortality Rate ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Machine Learning Methods ◽  
The World

The paper analyzes the socio-economic and demographic indicators of life expectancy in the countries of the world. Methods of regression analysis and machine learning are used. Statistically significant indicators that affect life expectancy around the world have been identified. When analyzing the data using machine learning methods, 13 of the 14 analyzed indicators were statistically significant. Significant indicators, in addition to those selected in the regression analysis, were 3: the under-five infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), the Net Barter Terms of Trade Index (2000 = 100), and Imports of goods and services (in % of GDP) (in the regression analysis, only the infant death rate was significant). In addition, it should be noted that there is a significant decrease in the under-five infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) for the EU, CIS and South-East Asian countries compared to the border set in the study for all countries: 4.65 vs. 34.9, a decrease in the birth rate from 2.785 to 1.85, a sharp increase in exports of goods and services: from 23.17 to 80.59, a halving in imports of goods and services, a drop in population growth from 2.105 to 0.85. The performed statistical analysis strongly supports the use of machine learning methods in identifying statistically significant relationships between various indicators that characterize the development of countries, if there are gaps in the data.

COVID-19 vaccination in South Asia: a call for responsible leadership among SAARC countries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amlan Haque ◽  
Md Shamirul Islam
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Responsible Leadership ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Regional Leadership ◽  
Future Challenges

Purpose Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has presented an opportunity to set aside traditional regional collaborations and take responsible leadership to overcome difficult times. This paper aims to explore the current COVID-19 vaccination progress and pandemic status for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries and suggests responsible leadership to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to think beyond. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a viewpoint of the current COVID-19 vaccination among eight SAARC nations. It scrutinises the recent COVID-19 vaccination statistics for the eight South Asian countries based on Web-based analytics and comparative analysis until 28 August 2021. Findings This paper calls for collaborative decisions and responsible actions for policymakers in the SAARC countries to deal with the COVID-19 vaccination crisis. When South Asian countries are fraught with the increasing number of populations with COVID-19 cases, deaths and acute shortage of life-saving vaccines, it is time for their national and SAARC leaders to strengthen regional cooperations and initiate collaborative actions. The paper demonstrates that implementing responsible leadership can result in favourable outcomes for individuals, organisations, regions and the world. Moreover, this paper suggests SAARC, through responsible actions, has the potentiality to overcome the current crisis of COVID-19 vaccination and enhance the regional sustainability of the South Asian nations. Originality/value This paper delivers information about the present developing situation of COVID-19 vaccination in SAARC countries, how the governments and regional leadership are handling and future challenges that have been raised and can be overcome effectively. This paper can be helpful for the policymakers and SAARC leaders for effective public health interventions in the region and to develop a recovery roadmap for the sustainable economic zone.

scholarly journals Projections of Precipitation and Temperature over the South Asian Countries in CMIP6

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansour Almazroui ◽  
Sajjad Saeed ◽  
Fahad Saeed ◽  
M. Nazrul Islam ◽  
Muhammad Ismail
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Precipitation And Temperature
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