Abstract

Mazen Abuqamar*, Danny Coomans and Fred Louckx

The infant mortality rate (IMR) is one of the most important indicators of the socioeconomic and of the health status of a community and is considered as an index of differentials in health and socioeconomic condition in a community. This article was aimed to determine the relationship between socio -economic differences (literacy rate, unemployment, poverty, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), early marriage, consanguineous marriage) and infant mortality in the Arab World during the last two decades Statistical analysis was performed on data extracted from the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) and world health organization (WHO). The results of this study showed a decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) among Arab countries. There was an inverse association between infant mortality and literacy. Poverty, GDP and early marriage had a significant relationship with infant mortality. Despite the falling in infant mortality rate, the rate of infant mortality is still high in the Arab World.