Progress on Global Health Goals: Are the Poor Being Left Behind?

Wagstaff, Adam; Bredenkamp, Caryn; Buisman, Leander R.

doi:10.1093/wbro/lku008

Publication: Progress on Global Health Goals: Are the Poor Being Left Behind?

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Date

2014-08-05

ISSN

1564-6971

Published

2014-08-05

Author(s)

Wagstaff, Adam

Bredenkamp, Caryn

Buisman, Leander R.

Abstract

We examine differential progress on health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) between the poor and the better off within countries. Our findings are based on an original analysis of 235 DHS and MICS surveys spanning 64 developing countries over the 1990–2011 period. We track five health status indicators and seven intervention indicators from all four health MDGs. In approximately three-quarters of countries, the poorest 40 percent have made faster progress than the richest 60 percent on MDG intervention indicators. On average, relative inequality in these indicators has been falling. However, in terms of MDG outcome indicators, in nearly half of the countries, relative inequality has been growing. Moreover, in approximately one-quarter of the countries, the poorest 40 percent have been slipping backwards in absolute terms on both MDG interventions and outcomes. Despite reductions in most countries, relative inequalities in MDG health indicators are still appreciable, with the poor facing higher risks of malnutrition and death in childhood and lower odds of receiving key health interventions.

Citation

“Wagstaff, Adam; Bredenkamp, Caryn; Buisman, Leander R.. 2014. Progress on Global Health Goals: Are the Poor Being Left Behind?. World Bank Research Observer. © Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/24186 License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.”