Health, rent, education and service coverage

Abstract

In this work we study the grouping and the position in their respective groups of 192 world countries with regard to economic resources, education, health and service coverage. We aim at showing that different economic development levels do not always go together with similar social indicators. This is a descriptive correlational study with retrospective and transversal design.

The variables indicating the differences are mother-child health condition, mortality rate regarding non-communicable diseases adjusted by age, Total Fertility Rate, adult literacy, women registration in secondary school, delivery assisted by qualified staff, sanitary fittings and drinkable water services, GNI per capita and central government expenditure on health per capita in US dollars.

Five classes of countries are recognized. The first is made up of all North American and Western European countries and a few other industrialized countries in other areas. They present the best health, socio-demographic, coverage and economic indicators. The second class is mainly composed of most Eastern and Centro European countries and all the countries in Central Asia; they present the same socio-demographic and coverage indicators as the first class but not similar health or economic indicators. The third comprises countries with medium-low incomes, characterized by not very good health, education or coverage indicators. The forth class represents most Latin American, Caribbean and Arab countries with medium-high incomes and indicators similar to those in class two. Finally the fifth class is composed of poorly developed countries, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa with bad indicators.

Argentina is placed in the fourth class with very good socioeconomic, health and service coverage indicators.