Analysis of Infant Mortality for Congenital Anomalies in Argentina according to Socioeconomic Profile, 2007-2014

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Congenital anomalies (CA) are the second cause of infant death. The infant mortality rate (IMR) due to CA shows a slight increase in recent years, despite the decrease in infant mortality (IM). Few studies have examined the socioeconomic factors of IMR due to CA. OBJECTIVES: To analyze infant mortality due to congenital anomalies in geographical areas of Argentina according to socioeconomic profile. METHODS: An ecological descriptive study was conducted. The 525 GA were analyzed for 2007-2014. A principal component analysis was carried out, and different indicators were constructed. The slope inequality index (SII) and the Kunst-Mackenbach relative index of inequality (RIIKM) were calculated, and both CA and chromosomal abnormality (ChrA) IMR were estimated. RESULTS: In IM due to CA, the RIIKM showed higher inequality in the stratum of very unfavorable socioeconomic situation, ranging from 1.03 (95%CI: 0.85; 1.21) to 1.27 (95%CI: 1.09;1,46) for the biennia 2007/08 and 2011/12, and a similar behavior was found in the SII. In IM due to ChrA, the RIIKM was different, with the highest IMR value in the stratum of very favorable socioeconomic situation, ranging from 0.6 (95%CI: -0.15; 1.35) to 0.83 (95%CI: 0.17;1.49). CONCLUSIONS: IMR due to CA is higher in the strata of very unfavorable socioeconomic situation; in contrast, IMR due to ChrA is higher in the strata of very favorable socioeconomic status, the difference being significant for the last two biennia and 2007/08, respectively