Global Inequalities in Youth Mortality, 2007-2012

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Demography
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Youth mortality remains a critical global health concern with limited cross-national comparative research.
• Significant disparities exist in all-cause mortality rates among individuals aged 15-34 years globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine age- and gender-specific variations in all-cause mortality among youth aged 15-34 years across 52 countries.
• To identify key socio-economic determinants contributing to international differences in youth mortality.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the World Health Organization (WHO) 2014 mortality database for the latest available data between 2007-2012.
• Employed rate ratios and ordinary least squares (OLS) and Poisson regression analyses to assess international variations in youth mortality.

Main Results:

• Mortality rates ranged from 28.4 per 100,000 in Hong Kong to over 600 per 100,000 in South Africa.
• Men aged 15-34 in South Africa and Russia exhibited the highest mortality rates, with similar global patterns observed for women.
• Income inequality, unemployment rates, and human development levels explained 50-66% of the global variance in youth mortality, with high unemployment and inequality significantly increasing mortality risk.

Conclusions:

• Marked international disparities in youth all-cause mortality are linked to violence, injuries, and risk factors like unemployment and income inequality.
• The United States (US) exhibits higher youth mortality rates compared to many industrialized nations, ranking in the upper quartile globally.
• Addressing socioeconomic factors such as unemployment, income inequality, and human development is crucial for reducing global youth mortality.