Health inequity and health outcome: a causal linkage study of low and middle income countries

The concept of health equity has received a lot of attention from researchers in recent times. However, the health equity researchers have majorly focused on the measurement of health equity or inequity or the antecedents of health equity. There are no studies until date that explores the effect of health equity on health outcomes. Such a study is relevant specifically for low income countries, as it would enhance the understanding of inequitable distribution of health services that could influence health outcomes in a country. The present study aims to explore the effect of health inequity on a popularly used health outcome indicator: infant mortality rate (IMR). The present study further includes some of the theoretically supported determinants of health outcomes such as health expenditures and health infrastructure measures as control variables. The present study utilizes a cross section pooled data of 72 low and middle income countries for the year 2011. Based on stepwise and robust regression, the findings indicate a significant effect of health inequity, per-capita public health expenditure, out of pocket health expenditure and access to improved water sources on infant mortality. The study is one of its kinds that relates health inequity to a health outcome. The findings have important implications for policy makers and academicians.