Regional Inequalities in Infant Mortality in Vietnam: Patterns and Explanatory Power of Economic Hypothesis

Liem T. Nguyen, Brown University

Infant mortality in Vietnam presents an interesting case study since Vietnam has achieved a remarkably low rate of infant mortality compared to other countries at a similar level of economic development. Moreover, it has lowered infant mortality in the context of dramatic socioeconomic restructuring as a result of political and economic reform. Using data from the 1999 Vietnamese Census and the 1997 Economic and Living Standard Survey, I present an analysis of the relationship between economic development and regional inequalities in mortality. The results show that less developed regions experience higher infant mortality and that the lowest income quintile is the best predictor of infant mortality. Another important finding is that the number of physicians per 10,000 population has a strong and positive association with infant mortality level. This result contradicts to the results from developing countries, but it is consistent with results from developed countries.