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Infant mortality rate inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Int J Epidemiol. 1996 Oct; 25(5):966-72.IJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Cape Town is undergoing rapid urbanization. South African vital statistics have routinely been stratified by racial categories but intra-urban and peri-urban geographical variations have been neglected.

METHODS

To examine variations in infant mortality rates (IMR) and proportional infant mortality between urban, rural and informally settled areas, stratified by racial category, birth notifications and infant death certifications recorded by a large health authority were analysed.

RESULTS

The IMR per 1000 livebirths was as high for coloureds on rural farms (34, 95% confidence interval 29-40) as for blacks in informal settlements (35, 95% CI: 32-37) and an exceptionally high IMR (60, 95% CI: 43-82) was found for coloureds in informal settlements. Inequalities between racial categories (11 (95% CI: 9-14) for whites, 19 (95% CI: 18-21) for coloureds and 33 (95% CI: 31-35) for blacks) were as expected from other South African studies. Of rural farm deaths, 22% were ascribed to ill-defined causes. Low birthweight was the most common defined cause of death in all areas except rural farm areas (14% ascribed to pneumonia), and gastro-enteritis was important in informally settled areas (18%).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine mortality data are more informative if stratified by robust and readily available indicators of socio-economic status such as residential area and racial category. Place of residence may distinguish risk strata as well as racial category, but the latter is helpful within socioeconomically heterogeneous residential areas.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Bachmann M
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
London L
No affiliation info available
Barron P
No affiliation info available

MeSH

African AmericansAfrican Continental Ancestry GroupDeath CertificatesEuropean Continental Ancestry GroupHumansInfantInfant MortalityInfant, Low Birth WeightInfant, NewbornRural PopulationSocioeconomic FactorsSouth AfricaUrban PopulationUrbanization

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

8921482

Citation

Bachmann, M, et al. "Infant Mortality Rate Inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa." International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 25, no. 5, 1996, pp. 966-72.
Bachmann M, London L, Barron P. Infant mortality rate inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Int J Epidemiol. 1996;25(5):966-72.
Bachmann, M., London, L., & Barron, P. (1996). Infant mortality rate inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. International Journal of Epidemiology, 25(5), 966-72.
Bachmann M, London L, Barron P. Infant Mortality Rate Inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Int J Epidemiol. 1996;25(5):966-72. PubMed PMID: 8921482.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Infant mortality rate inequalities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. AU - Bachmann,M, AU - London,L, AU - Barron,P, PY - 1996/10/1/pubmed PY - 1996/10/1/medline PY - 1996/10/1/entrez KW - Africa KW - Africa South Of The Sahara KW - Age Factors KW - Biology KW - Birth Weight KW - Blacks KW - Body Weight KW - Causes Of Death KW - Cultural Background KW - Death Rate KW - Demographic Factors KW - Developing Countries KW - English Speaking Africa KW - Ethnic Groups KW - Infant KW - Infant Mortality KW - Low Birth Weight KW - Mortality KW - Physiology KW - Population KW - Population Characteristics KW - Population Dynamics KW - Population Statistics KW - Research Methodology KW - Research Report KW - Rural Population KW - South Africa KW - Southern Africa KW - Urban Population KW - Vital Statistics KW - Whites KW - Youth SP - 966 EP - 72 JF - International journal of epidemiology JO - Int J Epidemiol VL - 25 IS - 5 N2 - BACKGROUND: Cape Town is undergoing rapid urbanization. South African vital statistics have routinely been stratified by racial categories but intra-urban and peri-urban geographical variations have been neglected. METHODS: To examine variations in infant mortality rates (IMR) and proportional infant mortality between urban, rural and informally settled areas, stratified by racial category, birth notifications and infant death certifications recorded by a large health authority were analysed. RESULTS: The IMR per 1000 livebirths was as high for coloureds on rural farms (34, 95% confidence interval 29-40) as for blacks in informal settlements (35, 95% CI: 32-37) and an exceptionally high IMR (60, 95% CI: 43-82) was found for coloureds in informal settlements. Inequalities between racial categories (11 (95% CI: 9-14) for whites, 19 (95% CI: 18-21) for coloureds and 33 (95% CI: 31-35) for blacks) were as expected from other South African studies. Of rural farm deaths, 22% were ascribed to ill-defined causes. Low birthweight was the most common defined cause of death in all areas except rural farm areas (14% ascribed to pneumonia), and gastro-enteritis was important in informally settled areas (18%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine mortality data are more informative if stratified by robust and readily available indicators of socio-economic status such as residential area and racial category. Place of residence may distinguish risk strata as well as racial category, but the latter is helpful within socioeconomically heterogeneous residential areas. SN - 0300-5771 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/8921482/Infant_mortality_rate_inequalities_in_the_Western_Cape_Province_of_South_Africa_ L2 - https://academic.oup.com/ije/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ije/25.5.966 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -