Evolución de la desigualdad en la Mortalidad Infantil

Abstract

Background: In Chile, infant mortality rate (IMR) reduced substantially during the last decades; however, the trend of the disparity between districts with different socioeconomic status (SES) is unknown. Objective: Describe the trend of the disparity of IMR. Methods: Ecologic study. For measuring IMR disparity the following indicators were calculated: population attributable risk (PAR), population attributable risk percent (PAR%), rate ratio (RR) and districtual attributable risk (AR). The first three permitted a global comparison (Chile vs high SES district), while the fourth permitted specific comparisons (9 districts of the Metropolitan Region vs high SES district). CASEN poverty index was used for characterizing SES. Results: Globally, PAR decreased from 8.3 (1990) to 3.5 per 1,000 (2006), while RR decreased from 1.98 (1990) to 1.80 (2006). Specifically, both districtual AR and poverty indexes in the 9 studied districts became more homogeneous in time, reflecting a decrease in the disparity gap. Conclusion: Between 1990 and 2006 IMR disparity among districts of the Metropolitan Region decreased, coincidently with a reduction in poverty levels. Nevertheless, important gaps still persist.