RELATIONSHIPS AMONG HEALTH CARE INVESTMENTS, CESAREAN SECTION RATES, AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS APPROACH

Öz

This study aimed to investigate the effects of various health investments and cesarean section rates on infant mortality rates. In this context, the effects of the number of physicians per 1,000 people, the health expenditure per capita in US dollars by purchasing power parity, the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people, and the cesarean section rates on infant mortality rates were revealed. 33 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries, whose data for 2015-2019 could be accessed, were included in the study. According to the results, the number of physicians and health expenditures affected the infant mortality rate negatively, but the effect of these variables was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). The number of hospital beds had a statistically significant and negative effect on the infant mortality rate (p<0.05). Cesarean section rates had a statistically significant and positive effect on the infant mortality rate (p<0.05). Countries seeking ways to reduce cesarean section rates should convince both expectant mothers and physicians in terms of the policies they will adopt in this context.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cesarean-sections
• Infant Mortality Rate
• Panel Data

SAĞLIK YATIRIMLARI, SEZARYEN ORANLARI VE BEBEK ÖLÜM HIZI İLİŞKİSİ: BİR PANEL VERİ ANALİZİ YAKLAŞIMI

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, çeşitli sağlık yatırımları ile sezaryen oranlarının bebek ölüm hızına etkisini araştırmaktır. Bu kapsamda, 1.000 kişiye düşen hekim sayısının, satın alma gücü paritesine göre Amerikan doları olarak kişi başına düşen sağlık harcamasının, 1.000 kişiye düşen hastane yatağı sayısının ve sezaryen oranlarının 1.000 canlı doğumda bebek ölüm hızı üzerindeki etkisi ortaya konmuştur. Çalışmada, 2015-2019 dönemine ait verisine ulaşılabilen 33 Ekonomik İşbirliği ve Kalkınma Örgütü üyesi ülkeye yer verilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre, hekim sayısı ve sağlık harcaması, bebek ölüm hızını negatif yönde etkilemektedir ancak bu değişkenlerin etkisi istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildir (p>0,05). Hastane yatağı sayısı, bebek ölüm hızını istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde negatif etkilemektedir (p<0,05). Sezaryen oranları ise, bebek ölüm hızını istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde pozitif etkilemektedir (p<0,05). Sezaryen oranlarını azaltmak isteyen ülkeler, bu kapsamda benimseyecekleri politikalarda hem anne adaylarını hem de hekimleri ikna etmelidirler.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sezaryen Doğumlar
• Bebek Ölüm Hızı
• Panel Veri

Kaynakça

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