Ethnic variations in mortality in pre-school children in Denmark, 1973-2004

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ethnic variations in mortality in pre-school children in Denmark, 1973-2004

AU - Pedersen, Grete Skøtt

AU - Mortensen, Laust Hvas

AU - Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo

PY - 2011/7

Y1 - 2011/7

N2 - The objective of the study was to describe ethnic differences in under-five-years mortality in Denmark according to maternal country of origin. We conducted a large registry-linkage study of all singleton live-born children from mothers born in Denmark and from the ten largest migrant groups (n = 1,841,450). Study outcomes were death before the age of 5 years from all causes combined and the most frequent death causes. Results showed that children of mothers of Turkish, Pakistani, Somali and Iraqi origin had an elevated risk of dying before the age of five compared to offspring of mothers born in Denmark, with hazards ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 1.48 (1.31-1.67), 1.97 (1.68-2.32), 1.70 (1.29-2.25), and 1.92 (1.41-2.62), respectively. Ethnic differences were also observed in the underlying causes of death. Children of mothers born in Former Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Norway, Sweden, Iran, and Afghanistan did not differ in under-five-years mortality from ethnic Danish children. Adjustments for household income did not attenuate the risk estimates. In conclusion, we found excess child mortality in some migrant groups, but not in all. The differences could not be explained by socioeconomic status.

AB - The objective of the study was to describe ethnic differences in under-five-years mortality in Denmark according to maternal country of origin. We conducted a large registry-linkage study of all singleton live-born children from mothers born in Denmark and from the ten largest migrant groups (n = 1,841,450). Study outcomes were death before the age of 5 years from all causes combined and the most frequent death causes. Results showed that children of mothers of Turkish, Pakistani, Somali and Iraqi origin had an elevated risk of dying before the age of five compared to offspring of mothers born in Denmark, with hazards ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 1.48 (1.31-1.67), 1.97 (1.68-2.32), 1.70 (1.29-2.25), and 1.92 (1.41-2.62), respectively. Ethnic differences were also observed in the underlying causes of death. Children of mothers born in Former Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Norway, Sweden, Iran, and Afghanistan did not differ in under-five-years mortality from ethnic Danish children. Adjustments for household income did not attenuate the risk estimates. In conclusion, we found excess child mortality in some migrant groups, but not in all. The differences could not be explained by socioeconomic status.

KW - Child Mortality

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Male

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

U2 - 10.1007/s10654-011-9594-1

DO - 10.1007/s10654-011-9594-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21674217

SN - 0393-2990

VL - 26

SP - 527

EP - 536

JO - European Journal of Epidemiology

JF - European Journal of Epidemiology

IS - 7

ER -