رسائل ماجيستير
English
2023
The Impact of sociodemographic, macroeconomic, and health status and resources on infant mortality rates in Oman : evidence from 1980 to 2022
Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim Eltayib , Mohammed Al-Azr, Moon Fai Chan
كلية الطب والعلوم الصحية-جامعة السلطان قابوس · عمان
The infant mortality rate (IMR) is an important indicator of the well-being of infants and their mothers within a community. Although IMR declined substantially before the start of the 20th century, its reduction has stagnated over the past ten years. To date, no prior study has examined the determinants of IMR in Oman from both a national and multifactorial perspective. This study aims to investigate the effects of macroeconomic (ME), sociodemographic (SD), and health status and resources (HSR) factors on IMR, as well as how these factors interact with one another.
Methods:
This retrospective time-series study collected annual data for Oman over a 43-year period, from 1980 to 2022. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to develop an exploratory model identifying the determinants of IMR. Data were gathered from various local and international sources, and several quality assurance procedures were implemented to ensure data reliability.
Results:
The final model revealed that HSR determinants have a significant and direct negative effect on IMR (β = -0.617, p < 0.001). SD determinants have a significant and direct positive effect on IMR (β = 0.447, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, ME determinants influence IMR only indirectly (β = -0.854, p < 0.001). However, ME determinants also exert direct effects on both HSR (β = 0.722, p < 0.001) and SD (β = -0.916, p < 0.001) factors.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study underscore the essential role of macroeconomic factors in improving public health and in reducing infant mortality in particular. Furthermore, the results highlight the significant impact of specific health intervention programs—such as immunization—on infant survival. Therefore, it is critical to ensure sustainable funding for such programs. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the need for an integrated policy approach that simultaneously addresses socioeconomic, health-related, and macroeconomic factors to improve the health and well-being of children and the broader population in Oman.