Multilevel Effects of Education and Economic Resources on Infant Mortality in Developing Countries

Elsie R. Pamuk, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Regina Fuchs, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

Literature on the social determinants of health has often considered education and economic resources as separate indicators of socioeconomic status. From a policy perspective, however, it is important to understand the relative strength of these social factors on health outcomes, particularly in developing countries. It is also important to examine not only the impact of education and economic resources for individuals, but also how the level of education within the community and for the country as a whole affects health outcomes. This analysis assesses the strength of the relationship between education and economic resources within families, communities, and countries on infant mortality using multi-level regression models on data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted since 2003 in 43 low and lower-middle income countries. We find strong effects for both per capita GNI and completed secondary education at the country level, but a greater impact of education within families and communities.