Abstract

MORA ALVARADO, Darner Adrián  and  PORTUGUEZ BARQUERO, Carlos Felipe. Health and development in the world: CO2 emissions versus sanitation and education indicators . Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.2, pp.79-83. ISSN 1409-1429.

Objective: To analyze if per capita emissions of carbon dioxide in a country are or are not associated with indicators of development, in comparison with drinking water and sanitation coverage in 106 countries around the world. Methods: In a sample 106 countries around the world, an analysis of frequency was done between per capita emissions, the percentage of coverage with services of drinking water and other indicators of development and health. We used a Pearson Linear Correlation Analyses to 95 % confidence between indicators and an analyses of frequencies among the intervals of CO2, development indicators and the access to these same indicators and, in this manner, we tried to verify which one of these aspects better explains the different countries´ indices of health and development. Results: Analysis of frequency indicates a good concordance between coverage with safe drinking water (PAC), the human development index (IDH) and the mortality rate (TM)<5 years old/1000 rather than CO2 emissions per capita. On the other hand, a Pearson Linear Correlation coefficient to 95% confidence, indicates inverse strong associations (r= 0,76)between PAC and TM at less than 5 years per 1000 and a positive association with life expectancy at birth (EVN=0,76) and availability of safe drinking water. Indexes of sanitation as shown by the adequate sewage disposal (DAE) has a weak association with the same indicators (r= -0,64 y EVN=0,61). Furthermore, the "r"(PAC/IDH)=0,83 was considered to be very strong in comparison with per capita CO2 emissions in comparison with the same indicators (r ECO2/TM<5years old=- 0,41 and r ECO2/EVN=0,45) Conclusions: We conclude that safe water coverage and adequate sewage disposal better explain the association between health indicators and development around the world than the per capita emissions of CO2.

Keywords : water; education; indicators; mortality rate; health.

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