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Comparing UK and Other Western Countries' Health Expenditure, Relative Poverty and Child Mortality: Are British Children Doubly Disadvantaged?
Author(s) -
Pritchard Colin,
Wallace Mark S
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/chso.12079
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , poverty , context (archaeology) , demography , inequality , economics , medicine , demographic economics , geography , economic growth , mathematics , sociology , mathematical analysis , archaeology
We examined the UK 's effectiveness in reducing Child Mortality with 20 other Western countries, in the context of their national health expenditures, and, relative poverty — measured by ‘Income Inequality’ the gap between top and bottom 20 per cent of income. W.H.O. Child (0–14) Mortality Rates ( CMR ) and GDP Expenditure on Health (% GDPHE ) were examined and a cost‐effectiveness ratio calculated, which is the reduced CMR over the period divided by average GDPHE . The highest average % GDPHE was USA at 13.2 per cent; the UK 's 7.3 per cent was equal lowest. The widest Income Inequality was USA 8.5 times; the UK at 7.2 was third widest. The highest CMR was the USA 2436 per million (pm), the UK 's 1630 pm, although representing a fall of 62 per cent was fourth highest. However, UK cost‐effectiveness ratio (1: 350) was eighth best of 21 countries. Only Income Inequality correlated significantly with CMR . UK CMR fell significantly more than five countries but ten others declined more. If UK deaths had been at the average of the 17 countries with lower CMR , there would have been 1827 fewer deaths. British children's poverty and health expenditure means they and their services are doubly disadvantaged although the NHS relatively achieved more with comparatively less.