Socioeconomic instability and the availability of health resources: their effects on infant mortality rates in Macau from 1957-2006

Aim. To investigate the effects of socioeconomic instability and the availability of health resources on infant mortality rate. Background. In 1960, the infant mortality rate was 46·3 infants per 1000 live births in Macau but by 2006 it had declined to 2·7 infants per 1000 live births. Design. A retrospective design collecting yearly data for the Macau covering the period from 1957–2006. The infant mortality rate was the dependent variable and demographics, socioeconomic status and health resources are three main explanatory variables to determine the mortality rate. Methods. Regression modelling. Results. Results show that higher birth (Beta = 0·029, p = 0·004) and unemployment rates (Beta = −0·120, p = 0·036) and more public expenditure on health (Beta = −0·282, p