Social inequalities in health: Mortality in children under five years, Honduras, 2014

Abstract

Background: Social inequalities in health refer to health disparities, which are considered unfair, avoidable, and unnecessary, and which systematically affect vulnerable populations. Objective: Measure social inequalities in health of mortality in children under five years of age, Francisco Morazán and Yoro, Honduras, using 2014 data. Methods: Using a crosssectional descriptive approach, this study analyzed the mortality of children under age five through the lens of social inequality measurement and analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics of the deceased. In addition, this study estimated relevant health inequality indicators: the relative and absolute Kuznets index, the slope inequality index, and the health concentration index. It also examined inequalities in mortality across municipal literacy rate. Results: There were a total of 71 registered deaths of children under age five in Francisco Morazán, whereas there were 131 registered in Yoro. An excess of 18 deaths of children under five per 1000 live births was found among the population with the lowest literacy in Francisco Morazán, and 23 in Yoro, compared to the municipalities with the highest literacy. In both departments, the health concentration curve remained close to the equity line, leading to the conclusion that under-five mortality among children was concentrated among the municipalities with the lowest literacy rate. Discussion: Municipalities with the highest literacy rates were observed to have lower mortality rates for children under age five.