Desigualdades sociales en la mortalidad de niños menores de cinco años: revisión sistemática / Social inequalities in under-five mortality: a systematic review

RESUMEN Objetivo Identificar las características de los estudios sobre desigualdades sociales, en la mortalidad de niños menores de cinco años; sus perspectivas teóricas, ejes de desigualdad, métodos y resultados. Método Revisión sistemática de la literatura. Se consultaron cuatro bases de datos electrónicas y Google Scholar; se incluyeron estudios entre 2010 y 2018. Resultados Se analizaron 126 artículos. En el 62,7%, se estudió el territorio como eje de desigualdad, seguido por los determinantes socioeconómicos (27,8%). La mortalidad neonatal, infantil y en la niñez fue analizada en el 19,0%, 49,2% y 32,3%, respectivamente. Predominaron los estudios ecológicos (62,7%) y longitudinales (50,0%). Se encontró una disminución considerable en las tasas de mortalidad; sin embargo, el descenso no fue homogéneo entre subpoblaciones. Conclusiones La literatura reporta una marcada disminución de la mortalidad en niños menores de cinco años; no obstante, las brechas entre distintos ejes de desigualdad continúan y en algunos lugares se han incrementado. Las brechas entre los estratificadores variaron de acuerdo con el tiempo, lugar, eje de desigualdad y tipo de mortalidad analizada.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the characteristics of the published studies on social inequalities in under-five mortality, their theoretical perspectives, axes of inequality, methods and results. Method We carried out a systematic literature review. We consulted four electronic databases and Google Scholar, for studies published between 2010 and 2018. Results We analyzed 126 articles. In 62.7%, territory was studied as the axis of inequality, followed by socioeconomic determinants (27.8%). Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality was analyzed as an output in health in 19.0%, 49.2% and 32.3%, respectively. It predominated ecological (62.7%) and longitudinal (50.0%) studies. Significant reductions in mortality rates were found, however, the decline was not homogeneous among subpopulations. Conclusions The literature reports a marked decrease in under-five mortality; however, the gaps between different axes of inequality continue and in some cases they have increased. Gaps varied according to time, place, axis of inequality and type of mortality analyzed.(AU)

[Social inequalities in under-five mortality: a systematic review]. / Desigualdades sociales en la mortalidad de niños menores de cinco años: revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of the published studies on social inequalities in under-five mortality, their theoretical perspectives, axes of inequality, methods and results. METHOD: We carried out a systematic literature review. We consulted four electronic databases and Google Scholar, for studies published between 2010 and 2018. RESULTS: We analyzed 126 articles. In 62.7%, territory was studied as the axis of inequality, followed by socioeconomic determinants (27.8%). Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality was analyzed as an output in health in 19.0%, 49.2% and 32.3%, respectively. It predominated ecological (62.7%) and longitudinal (50.0%) studies. Significant reductions in mortality rates were found, however, the decline was not homogeneous among subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: The literature reports a marked decrease in under-five mortality; however, the gaps between different axes of inequality continue and in some cases they have increased. Gaps varied according to time, place, axis of inequality and type of mortality analyzed.