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Table 1 Descriptive statistics for all outcome and explanatory variables sub-divided into the WHO framework for the building blocks of a health system (n = 136 countries)

From: Health system determinants of infant, child and maternal mortality: A cross-sectional study of UN member countries

Variables

Median (IQR)

Range

Outcome

   Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births)

21.5 (10.0 - 60.0)

2.0 - 165.0

   Child mortality rate (per 1,000 births)

24.5 (11.0 - 80.0)

3.0 - 257.0

   Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 births)

81.5 (26.0 - 350.0)

3.0 - 1400.0

Explanatory

I. Human health resources

   Nursing/midwife density (per 10,000 population)

18.5 (7.0 - 51.0)

2.0 - 158.0

   Physician density (per 1,000 population)

11.0 (2.0 - 25.0)

0.3 - 64.0

II. Health service coverage

   % Of population with sustainable access to water and sanitation

87.50 (59.0 - 98.5)

24.0 - 100.0

   % Of births attended by skilled staff

93.0 (57.0 - 100.0)

6.0 - 100.0

III. Medical products, vaccines and technology

   % Measles immunization coverage

91.0 (79.0 - 97.0)

23.0 - 99.0

IV. Health financing

   Total health expenditure per person (USD)

153.0 (35.5 - 441.0)

4.0 - 6714.0

   Out-of-pocket expenditure on health (as a % of total health expenditure)

33.1 (19.8 - 48.4)

4.2 - 82.7

   Government health expenditure (USD)

148.0 (41.0 - 457.5)

4.0 - 3074.0

   Private share of total health expenditure (%)

44.8 (27.9 - 58.5)

9.3 - 83.6

V. Leadership and governance

   Corruption Index

3.0 (2.4 - 4.5)

1.3 - 9.4

Demographic variables

   Fertility rate (average number of children per woman)

2.5 (1.8 - 4.1)

1.2 - 6.6

   Population growth value (annual %)

1.42 (0.72 - 2.29)

-1.17 - 5.32

   Urban population value (annual %)

2.23 (1.16 - 3.35)

-1.02 - 5.90

   Female labour force participation (%)

59.8 (48.5 - 68.1)

14.9 - 90.2

  1. Lower value of Corruption Index on a scale of ten indicates higher perceived corruption