Inequality in Peruvian neonatal mortality generated by poverty and education, 2011-2019

This study aimed to analyze inequality in the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) between departments in Peru, generated by poverty and education, in the years 2011 and 2019.

Ecological study based on the analysis of social inequalities in health, recommended by the World Health Organization. The health indicator was the NMR. Poverty, measured as the existence of at least one unmet basic need per department, and education, average years of study of women of childbearing age per department, were selected to stratify equity. We calculated the absolute inequality gap (AG), the relative inequality gap (RG) and the health concentration index (HCI).

A higher NMR was found in departments with greater poverty and less education. In the NMR generated by poverty, the AG decreased from 8.13 to 2.24 between 2011-2019 and the RG from 2.08 to 1.31. The AG of the NMR according to education dropped from 4.50 to 2.31 and the RG from 1.62 to 1.28. The HCI registered values close to zero and with a decreasing trend; in 2019 it was 0.07 for poverty and 0.06 for education.

There is inequality in neonatal mortality between departments in Peru according to poverty and education, which decreased between 2011 and 2019 mainly in the poor or less educated population. The Ministry of Health should continue to reduce neonatal mortality by promoting interventions with a greater population focus.