Inequalities in perinatal mortality rates among immigrant and native population in Spain, 2005-2008.

We compared perinatal mortality rates (PMRs) and the risk from certain causes among immigrant and native population in the Valencian Community (Spain). Using data from the Perinatal Mortality Registry, crude and age standardized mortality ratios were obtained in the different groups of mothers. Mortality rate ratios were calculated to compare the causes of death resulting from prematurity, congenital anomalies, infectious diseases and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome between Spanish and foreign women. PMRs were higher among all the immigrant groups compared with the native population, with a statistical significance in Eastern European and sub-Saharan mothers. Neonatal mortality rates in North African and Latin American mothers were similar to those of native women. Babies of immigrant mothers were at a significant higher risk of dying from late infectious diseases and from causes resulting from being premature. More research is needed on the risk factors which contribute to generating differences in our setting.

Evaluación de la mortalidad perinatal en mujeres autóctonas e inmigrantes: influencia de la exhaustividad y la calidad de los registros / Perinatal mortality assessment in native and immigrant women: influence of exhaustiveness and quality of the registries

ObjetivoRealizar un análisis comparativo de la exhaustividad de los datos sobre mortalidad perinatal en la Comunitat Valenciana recogidos en el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) y en el Registro de Mortalidad Perinatal (RMPCV). Posteriormente, calcular y comparar la tasa de mortalidad perinatal (TMP) y sus componentes en gestantes autóctonas e inmigrantes, tomando como referencia los casos notificados a ambos registros durante 2005 y 2006.MétodosSe definieron los distintos tipos de mortalidad de acuerdo con los criterios establecidos por la OMS. La magnitud de la infradeclaración se analizó calculando las frecuencias y porcentajes de muertes infradeclaradas para el período 2005–2006. Se calcularon y compararon las diversas tasas entre mujeres autóctonas e inmigrantes de los cuatro grupos mayoritarios a partir de ambos registros, así como los intervalos de confianza del 95% para dichas tasas.ResultadosEn el INE existe un importante subregistro de muertes fetales y neonatales. Además, constan neonatos fallecidos de madre extranjera con nacionalidad española asignada. Ambos factores distorsionan la proporción de muertes fetales y neonatales en inmigrantes, y provocan una infraestimación de la TMP y sus componentes en estos colectivos, pues las obtenidas a partir del RMPCV son muy superiores en las mujeres inmigrantes, en particular en las de Europa del Este y las subsaharianas, en comparación con las autóctonas.ConclusionesEn definitiva, nuestros resultados indican que ambos registros son complementarios, pero el RMPCV presenta una mayor exhaustividad y fiabilidad para el cálculo de tasas. Además, sugieren la necesidad de monitorizar la evolución de la TMP en la población inmigrante en España(AU)

ObjectiveTo analyze the exhaustiveness and reliability of the data on perinatal mortality in two Spanish registries, namely, the National Statistics Institute and the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community and to calculate and compare the perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and its components in native and immigrant women, based on the cases reported to both registries in 2005 and 2006.ResultsFetal and neonatal deaths were substantially underreported in the National Statistics Institute compared with the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community. Moreover, in the National Statistics Institute, some neonatal deaths among the offspring of immigrant women were misclassified as being of Spanish nationality. These two factors distorted the proportion of fetal and neonatal deaths in immigrant women, giving rise to an underestimation of the PMR and its components, since the rates obtained from the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community were higher in immigrant than in Spanish women, particularly among east-European and sub-Saharan women.ConclusionsOur results indicate that both registries are complementary. However, the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community was found to be more exhaustive and to have greater reliability. Our results also suggest the importance of monitoring trends in PMR in the immigrant population in Spain(AU)

[Perinatal mortality assessment in native and immigrant women: influence of exhaustiveness and quality of the registries]. / Evaluación de la mortalidad perinatal en mujeres autóctonas e inmigrantes: influencia de la exhaustividad y la calidad de los registros.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the exhaustiveness and reliability of the data on perinatal mortality in two Spanish registries, namely, the National Statistics Institute and the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community and to calculate and compare the perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and its components in native and immigrant women, based on the cases reported to both registries in 2005 and 2006. METHODS: Perinatal mortality and its components were defined according to the World Health Organization's criteria. The magnitude of underreporting was calculated by taking into account the frequencies and percentages of deaths not declared for 2005-2006. Rates and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared between native and immigrant women using data from both registries. RESULTS: Fetal and neonatal deaths were substantially underreported in the National Statistics Institute compared with the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community. Moreover, in the National Statistics Institute, some neonatal deaths among the offspring of immigrant women were misclassified as being of Spanish nationality. These two factors distorted the proportion of fetal and neonatal deaths in immigrant women, giving rise to an underestimation of the PMR and its components, since the rates obtained from the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community were higher in immigrant than in Spanish women, particularly among east-European and sub-Saharan women. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that both registries are complementary. However, the Perinatal Mortality Registry of the Valencian Community was found to be more exhaustive and to have greater reliability. Our results also suggest the importance of monitoring trends in PMR in the immigrant population in Spain.