Socioeconomic inequality in infant mortality in Iran and across its provinces.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the socioeconomic inequality in infant mortality in Iran (the Islamic Republic of Iran).


METHODS
We analysed data from the provincially representative Demographic and Health Survey, which was done in Iran in 2000. We used a dichotomous hierarchical ordered probit model to develop an indicator of socioeconomic status of households. We assessed the inequality in infant mortality by using the odds ratio of infant mortality between the lowest and highest socioeconomic quintiles at both the provincial and national levels, and the concentration index, an inequality measure based on the entire socioeconomic distribution.


RESULTS
We found a decreasing trend in the infant mortality rate in relation to socioeconomic quintiles. The poorest to richest odds ratio was 2.34 (95% CI = 1.78-3.09). The concentration index of infant mortality in Iran was -0.1789 (95% CI = -0.2193--0.1386). Furthermore, the inequality of infant mortality between the lowest and highest quintiles was significant and favoured the better-off in most of the provinces. However, this inequality varied between provinces.


CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic inequality in infant mortality favours the better-off in the country as a whole and in most of its provinces, but the degree of this inequality varies between the provinces. As well as its national average, it is important to consider the provincial distribution of this indicator of population health.
Hosseinpoor
Ahmad Reza
AR
Health Equity Team, Evidence and Information for Policy, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. hosseinpoora@who.int
Mohammad
Kazem
K
Majdzadeh
Reza
R
Naghavi
Mohsen
M
Abolhassani
Farid
F
Sousa
Angelica
A
Speybroeck
Niko
N
Jamshidi
Hamid Reza
HR
Vega
Jeanette
J
D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran; D012923:Social Class