Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481432›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Economic and healthcare determinants of under-five mortality in low-income countries.

Vageesha Rajapakse, Adeesha Fernando, Nikini Sudangama, Damindu Adikari, Ashwathy Sundaram, Ruwan Jayathilaka

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Vageesha RajapakseDepartment of Business Management, SLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-6370-313X
Adeesha FernandoSLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9590-0334
Nikini SudangamaSLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5835-5197
Damindu AdikariSLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1795-9562
Ashwathy SundaramSLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0951-3117
Ruwan JayathilakaDepartment of Information Management, SLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, New Kandy Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka. ruwan.j@sliit.lk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7679-4164

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnder-five mortality (U5MR) remains a critical development challenge, particularly in low-income countries (LICs), where children face the highest risk of preventable deaths. This study explores the influence of three key variables, per capita Gross Domestic Product (PGDP), DTP1 immunisation coverage, and Government Healthcare Expenditure (GHE), on U5MR across 19 LICs from 2000 to 2020, providing a clearer understanding of their individual and combined effects.

methodsA balanced panel dataset was analysed using both fixed-effects and random-effects panel regression models. Additionally, country-level insights were derived through multiple linear regression (MLR) to capture variations across different LIC contexts.

resultsThe analysis revealed a strong inverse relationship between PGDP and U5MR, highlighting the role of economic growth in improving child survival. DTP1 immunisation coverage showed mixed effects, positively linked to reduced mortality in most LICs, but unexpectedly associated with higher U5MR in specific contexts like Malawi and the Central African Republic, suggesting challenges in access or implementation. Similarly, GHE showed varied impacts, with some countries benefiting significantly, while others demonstrated weaker or adverse effects, likely due to inefficiencies in spending.

conclusionsThe findings highlight that reducing U5MR in LICs requires more than isolated actions. It calls for combined strategies that connect economic improvements with fair healthcare investments and better immunisation delivery. Policymakers must design context-specific solutions to ensure lasting and meaningful progress in child health outcomes.

Indexed as

Child MortalityDeveloping CountriesGross Domestic ProductHealth ExpendituresInfant MortalityChild, PreschoolHumansInfantVaccination CoverageGovernment healthcare expenditureImmunisationLow-income countriesPanel data analysisUnder-five mortality rate

Identifiers

PMID40481432
PMCPMC12143078

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.