Abstract

The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) is an important indicator of public health development and social well- being. This study examines the socioeconomic factors influencing U5MR worldwide. It uses 2022 data from the World Bank Database, compiled from official estimates produced by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The dataset comprises cross-sectional observations from 217 countries. An ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was employed for estimation. The empirical results indicate that immunization coverage, access to basic sanitation services, and the prevalence of anemia among women have statistically significant effects on U5MR. Specifically, a one-percentage-point increase in immunization coverage or access to basic sanitation services is associated with a decrease in U5MR of 0.290 and 0.303 percentage points, respectively. Conversely, anemia among women constitutes a major risk factor: a one-percentage-point increase in its prevalence is associated with a 0.560-percentage-point increase in U5MR. Factors such as gross domestic product per capita and food insecurity do not exhibit statistically significant effects. Geographically, North America records a higher U5MR than East Asia and the Pacific at the 10% significance level, whereas no significant differences are observed for the other regions. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing preventive healthcare policies, improving sanitation infrastructure, and strengthening comprehensive maternal healthcare.

Keywords: Anemia among women, basic sanitation, cross-sectional study, immunization, under-five mortality.