J. Aleman et al., WHICH BABIES DIE DURING THE FIRST WEEK - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN A NICARAGUAN HOSPITAL, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 43(2), 1997, pp. 112-115
In a hospital-based case control study (108 and 285 infants) on risk f
actors for early neonatal death in Nicaragua, an analysis was performe
d on the possible association with characteristics of the mother and h
er environment, her reproductive history and contact with antenatal se
rvices as well as characteristics of the child. Antenatal medical supe
rvision was associated with a lower risk for neonatal death, even when
adjusting for parents' literacy. This association disappeared if birt
h weight or gestational age was entered into the analysis. There was a
n interaction between mortality and the mother's versus the father's l
iteracy, showing the highest risk if the mother was illiterate and the
fater was literate (odds ratio, OR 7.0, CI 2.6-19.3), while illiterac
y of both parents was associated to a lower risk (OR 4.2, CI 1.0-18.3)
. The strong association between maternal literacy and early neonatal
death is striking. Is maternal empowerment the important factor?