Public Spending on Health: Effects on Child Mortality. A Study of the Population without Social Security in Mexico.

The relationship between public spending on health and child mortality has been inconclusive in literature. Discussions about significant associations have largely depended on specific periods and countries studied. This essay focus on the effects of public spending on health on child mortality in the Mexican poorest states. Public spending on health for the population without social security was the specific variable examined considering the implementation of a public health insurance aiming to provide universal health coverage. A more even health system across the country implied a redistribution of public health expenditure between states with relatively high and low income. Based on the models presented, child mortality was a dependent variable expecting to have a significant effect from changes in public health expenditure for population without social security. The public health insurance Seguro Popular, is referred as main driver for increasing public health expenditure in poor states. This essay examines the relationship between public health expenditure and child mortality rates.