Human resources for health planning and management in the Eastern Mediterranean region: facts, gaps and forward thinking for research and policy
2007

Human Resources for Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Sample size: 22 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Fadi El-Jardali, Diana Jamal, Ahmad Abdallah, Kassem Kassak

Primary Institution: American University of Beirut

Hypothesis

What is the current state of human resources for health in the Eastern Mediterranean region and how does it relate to health outcomes?

Conclusion

Improving health outcomes in Eastern Mediterranean countries, especially low and middle-income countries, requires addressing both human resources for health and socioeconomic determinants.

Supporting Evidence

  • Physician density is significantly associated with lower mortality rates and higher life expectancy.
  • Nurse density is significantly associated with lower maternal mortality rates.
  • Female literacy is related to lower infant and under-5 mortality rates.
  • Health expenditure is significantly associated with lower infant and under-5 mortality rates in low-income countries.

Takeaway

This study shows that having enough doctors and nurses is important for keeping people healthy, especially in poorer countries.

Methodology

The study used univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to examine the relationship between health workforce density and health outcomes.

Limitations

The study primarily focused on physicians and nurses due to missing data for other health worker categories.

Participant Demographics

The analysis included data from 22 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1478-4491-5-9

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