title: Health disparities between Muslim and non-Muslim countries.
abstract: We examined differences in health indicators and associated factors across countries according to the proportion of the population who are Muslim. Of 190 UN countries, 48 were classified as Muslim-majority countries (MMC) and 142 as non-MMC. Data on 41 potential determinants of health were obtained from 10 different data sources, and 4 primary outcome measures (male and female life expectancy, maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate) were analysed. Annual per capita expenditure on health in MMC was one-fifth that of non-MMC. Maternal mortality and infant mortality rates were twice as high in MMC as non-MMC. Adult literacy rate was significantly higher for non-MMC. Four significant predictors explained 52%-72% of the differences in health outcomes between the 2 groups: gross national income, literacy rate, access to clean water and level of corruption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aga Kan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Junaid.razzak@aku.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Razzak
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasrullah
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaffar
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007514:Islam; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014881:Water Supply