Spatial and temporal analysis of infant mortality from microcephaly in Argentina (1998-2012)

Abstract

Due to the increase in cases of microcephaly caused by Zika virus in Brazil, the Ministry of Health of Argentina recommends increasing surveillance of this malformation. In order to deepen the knowledge of the epidemiological behavior of microcephaly in the country, infant mortality by microcephaly is analyzed between 1998 and 2012. The data come from the Direction of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS). The infant mortality rate by microcephaly (IMR-M) was calculated by provinces and regions and a clustering analysis was performed at the departmental level. The highest rates were observed in the regions and provinces of the north of the country. The spatial distribution of IMR-M is related to the prevalence of microcephaly in newborns. This distribution is related to the greater poverty and consanguinity of the north of Argentina, synergic factors predisposing to the occurrence of congenital malformations in general and microcephaly in particular.