Epidemiological difference could explain the higher infant mortality in Chile compared with Cuba

Abstract

BackgroundCuba has the lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America, while Chile has an infant mortality rate above the average of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. ObjectiveTo compare the epidemiology of infant mortality between Chile and Cuba in order to find characteristics that may explain the differences found. MethodComparative analysis between Chile and Cuba of infant mortality rate, causes of mortality, live birth weight, and maternal age, in 2015. ResultsCuba had a lower infant, neonatal, early and late mortality than Chile, with no differences in post-neonatal mortality. Chile had a higher infant mortality due to, alterations of the nervous system, urinary system, chromosomal alterations, respiratory distress syndrome, and disorders related to the short duration of gestation. Chile had a higher frequency of mothers ≥35 years old and live births weighing ≤2.500 g. The possible effects of health inequities could not be analysed due to lack of data. ConclusionsIt is possible to attribute the lower infant mortality rate in Cuba to: selective abortion due to congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies, lower epidemiological risk of the Cuban pregnant population, and lower frequency of live births with low birth weight.