[Social inequalities and health. Socioeconomic level and infant mortality in Chile in 1985-1995].

BACKGROUND: The strong relationship between social inequalities and health have been extensively reported.

AIM: To measure the effects of social inequalities, assessed through maternal educational level, on infant mortality in Chile.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using death and birth electronic databases of the Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas, the annual rates of infant mortality per years of approved studies of both parents and per cause were calculated.

RESULTS: In the 1990-1995 period, there is a clear gradient of infant mortality according to the level of education of the mother (38.2 per 1000 born alive among those without education versus 7.8 per 1000 born alive among those with university education). The same tendency is maintained for neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. All groups of causes had a similar effect, standing out diseases of the respiratory system with a relative risk (RR) of 14.3 and a population attributable risk (PAR) of 73%, trauma with a RR of 11.3 and a PAR of 69% and infectious diseases with a RR of 10.8 and a PAR of 62%. Between 1985 and 1995, absolute inequalities decreased but relative inequalities remained constant.

CONCLUSIONS: The great social inequality in infant mortality has persisted in Chile during the last years. To adequately assess the national progresses in population health using infant mortality as an indicator, the gaps between social groups must be born in mind.