Influence of medical-social and socio-economic factors on infant mortality rate in the Republic of Ingushetia

BACKGROUND: The infant mortality rate, as one of the indicators of the health and quality of life of the population, is an important factor that determines the country’s healthcare priorities. Despite the steadily decreasing infant mortality rates in the Russian Federation, the value of this indicator varies by region; thus, studying the factors influencing its value is relevant. If the leading medical, social, and socioeconomic factors that influence the level of infant mortality could be determined using data from a representative region (Republic of Ingushetia), the main directions for organizing measures aimed at reducing mortality among children in the first year of life will be identified.

AIM: To determine the main medical, social and socio-economic factors that influence the infant mortality rate in the Republic of Ingushetia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational single-center retrospective study was performed to examine the influence of medical, social, and socioeconomic factors on the mortality rate of children aged <1 year in the Republic of Ingushetia. The obtained data were compared with similar indicators for the Russian Federation as a whole and the North Caucasus Federal District.

RESULTS: During the study period (2011–2019), significant changes were observed in infant mortality rates in the Republic of Ingushetia: infant mortality has decreased because of the age components, leading to the normal ratio of neonatal and post neonatal mortality. Rates of infant mortality from certain conditions arising in the perinatal period, congenital anomalies, and nervous system and circulatory system diseases have significantly decreased. The proportion of women admitted under the supervision of antenatal clinics in the early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) has increased, the incidence of morbidity among pregnant women has decreased, and the proportion of normal births has been increasing. Although many medical organizations have employed a sufficient number of medical personnel, the coverage for biochemical screening has decreased, detection of malformations and biochemical abnormalities during prenatal diagnostics was low, medical personnel have low qualifications, and the shortage of obstetric and pediatric beds and pathology beds for newborns and premature infants was significant. A statistically significant dependence of the frequency of deaths of children aged <1 year on socioeconomic indicators−unemployment level, monetary income of the population, and housing conditions−was revealed.

CONCLUSION: The main medical, social, and socioeconomic factors that influence infant mortality were analyzed using data from the Republic of Ingushetia. Positive and negative trends in the current state of the healthcare system of this republic have been identified.