Infant mortality and crisis in Mexico

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Demography

Background:

• Infant mortality rates in Mexico have shown a general decline.
• However, the decline has not been uniform across all social strata.
• This suggests underlying social inequalities influencing health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the varying rates of infant mortality decline across different social groups in Mexico.
• To investigate the impact of the economic crisis on infant mortality and social inequalities.
• To examine the role of social factors in determining infant mortality, even for established biodemographic variables.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Encuesta Nacional de Fecundidad y Salud (ENFES).
• Employed a specific analytical strategy to differentiate trends among social groups.
• Examined the influence of socioeconomic factors on infant mortality patterns.

Main Results:

• The economic crisis did not reverse the declining infant mortality trend but widened social inequalities.
• Maternal education's impact on infant mortality varied, proving insignificant in certain social sectors.
• Biodemographic characteristics exhibited differential mortality behaviors, influenced by social factors.

Conclusions:

• Increased social inequalities are a key consequence of the economic crisis on infant mortality.
• Standard determinants of infant mortality, like maternal education, may not apply universally across social groups.
• Social factors significantly shape even seemingly constant biodemographic influences on mortality.