Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka
Abstract Background This study investigates the role of economic growth, healthcare investment, immunization coverage, and malnutrition in reducing under-five mortality rates (U5MR) in Sri Lanka. Understanding how these factors interact within socio-economic ecosystems is essential to formulating su...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00862-x |
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| author | Vageesha Rajapakse Ruwan Jayathilaka |
| author_facet | Vageesha Rajapakse Ruwan Jayathilaka |
| author_sort | Vageesha Rajapakse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study investigates the role of economic growth, healthcare investment, immunization coverage, and malnutrition in reducing under-five mortality rates (U5MR) in Sri Lanka. Understanding how these factors interact within socio-economic ecosystems is essential to formulating sustainable strategies to improve child survival outcomes. Methods This study employs multiple linear regression to analyze the statistical associations between economic growth, healthcare investment, immunization, malnutrition, and under-five mortality in Sri Lanka. Using secondary data from the World Bank and UNICEF (2000–2021), U5MR was modeled against economic growth (per capita GDP), government healthcare expenditure (GHE), immunization coverage (DTP1), and malnutrition (MLN), with significance assessed through p-values and model fit via R². Results The multiple linear regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for 85% of the variation in under-five mortality (R² = 0.85). Economic growth and immunization coverage were negatively associated with U5MR and found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.10 respectively), indicating their potential role in reducing child mortality. Malnutrition showed a strong positive association (p < 0.01), emphasizing its continued threat to child health. Although government healthcare expenditure had a negative association, it was not statistically significant, suggesting possible inefficiencies in resource utilization. Conclusion The study highlights the significant role of economic growth, healthcare expenditure, immunization coverage, and nutrition in shaping U5MR trends in Sri Lanka. The findings emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance child health outcomes and ensure sustainable progress in reducing child mortality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d89c05a982b741988ee19c304fc9cccd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d89c05a982b741988ee19c304fc9cccd2025-08-20T02:10:31ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-06-014411910.1186/s41043-025-00862-xSurviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri LankaVageesha Rajapakse0Ruwan Jayathilaka1SLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information TechnologySLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information TechnologyAbstract Background This study investigates the role of economic growth, healthcare investment, immunization coverage, and malnutrition in reducing under-five mortality rates (U5MR) in Sri Lanka. Understanding how these factors interact within socio-economic ecosystems is essential to formulating sustainable strategies to improve child survival outcomes. Methods This study employs multiple linear regression to analyze the statistical associations between economic growth, healthcare investment, immunization, malnutrition, and under-five mortality in Sri Lanka. Using secondary data from the World Bank and UNICEF (2000–2021), U5MR was modeled against economic growth (per capita GDP), government healthcare expenditure (GHE), immunization coverage (DTP1), and malnutrition (MLN), with significance assessed through p-values and model fit via R². Results The multiple linear regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for 85% of the variation in under-five mortality (R² = 0.85). Economic growth and immunization coverage were negatively associated with U5MR and found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.10 respectively), indicating their potential role in reducing child mortality. Malnutrition showed a strong positive association (p < 0.01), emphasizing its continued threat to child health. Although government healthcare expenditure had a negative association, it was not statistically significant, suggesting possible inefficiencies in resource utilization. Conclusion The study highlights the significant role of economic growth, healthcare expenditure, immunization coverage, and nutrition in shaping U5MR trends in Sri Lanka. The findings emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance child health outcomes and ensure sustainable progress in reducing child mortality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00862-xUnder-Five mortalityEconomic growthHealthcare investmentMalnutritionSustainable social ecosystems |
| spellingShingle | Vageesha Rajapakse Ruwan Jayathilaka Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Under-Five mortality Economic growth Healthcare investment Malnutrition Sustainable social ecosystems |
| title | Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Surviving the first five years: the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | surviving the first five years the economic and healthcare determinants of child mortality in sri lanka |
| topic | Under-Five mortality Economic growth Healthcare investment Malnutrition Sustainable social ecosystems |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00862-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vageesharajapakse survivingthefirstfiveyearstheeconomicandhealthcaredeterminantsofchildmortalityinsrilanka AT ruwanjayathilaka survivingthefirstfiveyearstheeconomicandhealthcaredeterminantsofchildmortalityinsrilanka |