Factors affecting infant mortality rates: Evidence from 1969-2008 data in Singapore

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of demographic changes, socioeconomic inequality, and availability of health resources on infant mortality rates (IMR) in Singapore. Subjects and methods: A retrospective study design was used to collect yearly data for Singapore covering the period from 1969 to 2008. The IMR was the dependent variable and demographics, socioeconomic status, and health resources were the three main determinants. Results: A structural equation model was employed and results showed that more available health resources (beta∈=∈-0.43, p∈<∈0.01) were more likely to reduce the IMR. By contrast, socioeconomic inequality (beta∈=∈0.43, p∈<∈0.01) and demographic changes (beta∈=∈-0.31, p∈<∈0.01) were more likely to increase the IMR. Conclusions: These results therefore imply that more effort, particularly during economic downturns, should be put into removing the barriers that impede access to health care services and increasing preventive care for the population that currently has less access to health care in communities where there is a scarcity of medical resources.