OBJECTIVE: From 2002 to 2005 the infant mortality rate in the city of Bielefeld has been higher than that of the state of North Rhine Westphalia, in which Bielefeld is located. The 3-year average in Bielefeld was 7.3 vs. 4.7 per 1 000 live births in the period 2002-2004. The aim of our study was to examine the causes of the elevated infant mortality in Bielefeld. METHODS: We conducted a small area analysis and an analysis of the migration status of parents and children in the context of infant mortality. We collected data from death certificates stored at the health office of Bielefeld and coded the cause of death according to ICD-10. We extracted nationality and country of birth from the local population registry. RESULTS: The most frequent causes of death were perinatal factors, malformations and sudden infant death syndrome. Three city districts with a high proportion of population groups with specific sociological risks had an elevated infant mortality. Among infants of migrants, malformations were a more common cause of death (40% of all deaths) than among those without migration background. Perinatal causes were less common among infants with a migration background than without one (42% vs. 54%. of deaths). The authors question whether or not a cause-effect relationship exists here. CONCLUSIONS: The infant mortality rate and the proportion of low birth-weight infants are associated with the social status. Thus, infant mortality is not distributed evenly within a city, either in geographic or in sociological terms. Conversely, statistics about infant mortality define focal points which can be identified and improved. Analysis according to migration background and socio-spatial structures can help to assess health care provided and to initiate targeted interventions, e.g., via local health conferences.
OBJECTIVE: From 2002 to 2005 the infant mortality rate in the city of Bielefeld has been higher than that of the state of North Rhine Westphalia, in which Bielefeld is located. The 3-year average in Bielefeld was 7.3 vs. 4.7 per 1 000 live births in the period 2002-2004. The aim of our study was to examine the causes of the elevated infant mortality in Bielefeld. METHODS: We conducted a small area analysis and an analysis of the migration status of parents and children in the context of infant mortality. We collected data from death certificates stored at the health office of Bielefeld and coded the cause of death according to ICD-10. We extracted nationality and country of birth from the local population registry. RESULTS: The most frequent causes of death were perinatal factors, malformations and sudden infant death syndrome. Three city districts with a high proportion of population groups with specific sociological risks had an elevated infant mortality. Among infants of migrants, malformations were a more common cause of death (40% of all deaths) than among those without migration background. Perinatal causes were less common among infants with a migration background than without one (42% vs. 54%. of deaths). The authors question whether or not a cause-effect relationship exists here. CONCLUSIONS: The infant mortality rate and the proportion of low birth-weight infants are associated with the social status. Thus, infant mortality is not distributed evenly within a city, either in geographic or in sociological terms. Conversely, statistics about infant mortality define focal points which can be identified and improved. Analysis according to migration background and socio-spatial structures can help to assess health care provided and to initiate targeted interventions, e.g., via local health conferences.