Social inequalities in neonatal mortality and living condition

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Barreto, Mauricio³  Braga, José Ueleres¹  Gonçalves, Annelise C.²  Costa, Maria da Conceição N.³  Paim, Jairnilson S.³  Silva, Ligia Maria Vieira da³ 

[1] Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil;Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

关键词: Infant mortality;    Social conditions;    Health inequalities;    Social conditions;    Mortality;    Risk factors;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2013000300012

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Objective: To evaluate the association between the spatial distribution of neonatal mortality and living conditions, and to analyze trends in the social inequalities, related to this mortality, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2000 - 2006. Methods: The city's Information Zones, the unit of analysis used in this study, were grouped into strata reflecting high, intermediate, low and very low living conditions, based on a living conditions index (LCI). Neonatal mortality rates were calculated for each stratum. Spearman's correlation, linear regression and relative risks were used in the data analysis. Results: Neonatal mortality in Salvador was found to be associated with living conditions, with risks of 53, 56 and 59% greater, respectively, in the intermediate, low and very low strata, when compared to the high living conditions stratum. Only the intermediate living conditions stratum shows a significant decline in neonatal mortality (β = -0.93; p = 0.039). In the stratum of high living conditions, it was observed a stagnation of this mortality. Conclusions: Poorer living conditions were associated to higher risks of neonatal mortality. The slight decline in social inequalities, found in neonatal mortality, was due to a decline in the intermediate living conditions stratum. Although dependent on the access to quality healthcare services and life support technologies, a more consistent reduction in the neonatal mortality and its associated inequalities will only be achieved when broader-reaching public policies are implemented, improving the living conditions, and mainly focusing on priority groups.

【 授权许可】

Unknown