Socio-economic factors associated with infant mortality in Italy: an ecological study.
BACKGROUND
One issue that continues to attract the attention of public health researchers is the possible relationship in high-income countries between income, income inequality and infant mortality (IM). The aim of this study was to assess the associations between IM and major socio-economic determinants in Italy.


METHODS
Associations between infant mortality rates in the 20 Italian regions (2006-2008) and the Gini index of income inequality, mean household income, percentage of women with at least 8 years of education, and percentage of unemployed aged 15-64 years were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Univariate linear regression and multiple stepwise linear regression analyses were performed to determine the magnitude and direction of the effect of the four socio-economic variables on IM.


RESULTS
The Gini index and the total unemployment rate showed a positive strong correlation with IM (r = 0.70; p < 0.001 and r = 0.84; p < 0.001 respectively), mean household income showed a strong negative correlation (r = -0.78; p < 0.001), while female educational attainment presented a weak negative correlation (r = -0.45; p < 0.05). Using a multiple stepwise linear regression model, only unemployment rate was independently associated with IM (b = 0.15, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In Italy, a high-income country where health care is universally available, variations in IM were strongly associated with relative and absolute income and unemployment rate. These results suggest that in Italy IM is not only related to income distribution, as demonstrated for other developed countries, but also to economic factors such as absolute income and unemployment. In order to reduce IM and the existing inequalities, the challenge for Italian decision makers is to promote economic growth and enhance employment levels.
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126, Bologna, Italy. laura.dallolio@unibo.it
Laura
L
Dallolio
Valentina
V
Di Gregori
Jacopo
J
Lenzi
Giuseppe
G
Franchino
Simona
S
Calugi
Gianfranco
G
Domenighetti
Maria Pia
MP
Fantini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult