Absolute and socioeconomically stratified trends in birth rate and infant mortality rate in Ireland 1984-2005.
BACKGROUND
The association of poor childhood socioeconomic circumstances with increased infant mortality rates (IMR) makes IMR a useful public health index. We analysed Irish trends for 1984-2005.


METHODS
All-cause IMR and all-cause IMR stratified by SEG were calculated and plotted. Tests of trend were computed.


RESULTS
In 22 years, there were 1,217,014 births; 8,212 infants died. IMR per live births declined from 9.6 to 3.7 per 1,000 (P < 0.001). This decline was observed among all SEG categories, but was much lower among infants whose guardian had 'Unknown' SEG.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall secular decline in IMR is welcome, and where available, the trends were similar among SEGs. However, as almost half the deaths occurred in infants with a guardian with SEG 'Unknown'. A uniform SEP classification system, record linkage and monitoring data collection could assist in improving the data quality required to further reduce IMR in Ireland.
McCarthy
A
A
Child Health Epidemiology Unit, Health Research Board, Dublin, Ireland. amccarthy@hrb.ie
Kirke
P
P
D001723:Birth Rate / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors