Health and Development Challenges: A Nested Typology of 123 Developing Countries

ABSTRACT

This study creates a nested typology of non-OECD countries to understand the nature of the challenges facing them. Due largely to problems of insufficient data, previous studies have focused on wealthier nations’ political, developmental and health indicators. Developing nations are classified using cluster analysis based on seven key health and development factors: income inequality, under-nutrition, government share of total expenditure on health, total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP, DPT3 vaccination coverage, number of physicians per 1000 people and infant mortality. I find tiers of country clusters characterized by above average health and development and below average health and development. These tiers then subdivide into seven relatively distinct categories. By identifying groupings of countries that share in particular arrangements of health and development challenges this research may assist policymakers, and health and development scholars to identify broad but appropriate strategies for country clusters.

KEYWORDS:

• Health
• development
• typology
• infant mortality
• inequality

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on Contributor

Isaac Christiansen is an assistant professor at Midwestern State University in the Department of Sociology in Wichita Falls, Texas. His research interests include global health inequalities, Marxist political economy and social change and development. Significant prior publications include “Commodification of Health Care and Its Consequences” published in World Review of Political Economy and “Accessibility and Health: An International Analysis of Government Expenditure, Socioeconomic Development and Infant Mortality” (co-authored work with R. Mazur) published in Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis.