Infant mortality and social conditions in America: a correlation analysis

Abstract

The relation beetwen the infant mortality rate, as a health indicator, and various demographic, social and health care development indexes is explored by means of an ecological, study based on correlation theory. Results show that the variables of greatest influence are maternal education and birth rate. It seems apparent that, once a minimal level is achieved, an increase of resources devoted to medical care, does not by itself, improve the infant mortality rate in these countries.