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. 2020 Sep 11;17(18):6606.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186606.

Economic Crisis Impact and Social Determinants of Perinatal Outcomes and Infant Mortality in Greece

Christos Zilidis  1 , Christos Hadjichristodoulou  2
Affiliations

Economic Crisis Impact and Social Determinants of Perinatal Outcomes and Infant Mortality in Greece

Christos Zilidis et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

(1) Background: To explore the effects of the 2008 economic crisis on maternal, perinatal and infant mortality in Greece and the socio-economic determinants associated with them; (2) Methods: The annual rates of stillbirth (SBR), perinatal mortality (PMR), infant mortality (IMR), neonatal mortality (NNMR), post-neonatal mortality (PNMR), low birth weight (LBW), and maternal mortality (MMR) were calculated for the years 2000-2016. Average Annual Percent Changes (AAPC) were calculated by the period before and after 2008. The expected rates of 2009-2016 and the observed-to-expected rate ratios (RR) were calculated. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the impact of socio-economic variables on health outcomes; (3) Results: A reverse in downwards trends of PNM, IMR, and NNMR is observed since 2009. All observed values of 2009-2016 were found significantly higher than the expected ones by 12-34%. All indicators except SBR were found negatively correlated with GDP and DHI. A positive correlation was found between IMR, NNMR, and LBW and long-term unemployment, and no association with public health expenditure; (4) Conclusions: Economic crisis was associated with remarkable adverse effects on perinatal outcomes and infant mortality, mainly determined by long-term unemployment and income reduction. The findings stress a need for interventions to protect maternity and child health during crises.

Keywords: Greece; economic crisis; infant mortality; perinatal outcomes; social determinants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Observed and expected Perinatal Mortality and Infant Mortality rates in Greece, 2009–2016.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Observed and expected Perinatal Mortality and Infant Mortality rates in Greece, 2009–2016.
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