Abstract
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 liveborn
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-fiveyears
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.
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 liveborn
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-fiveyears
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | European Journal of Epidemiology |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | 527-536 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0393-2990 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2011 |
