Changes in Socio-Economic Inequality in Neonatal Mortality in Iran Between ۱۹۹۵-۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۰: An Oaxaca Decomposition Analysis

Background Exploring changes in health inequality and its determinants over time is of policy interest. Accordingly, this study aimed to decompose inequality in neonatal mortality into its contributing factors and then explore changes from ۱۹۹۵-۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۰ in Iran.   Methods Required data were drawn from two Iran’s demographic and health survey (DHS) conducted in ۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۱۰. Normalized concentration index (CI) was used to measure the magnitude of inequality in neonatal mortality. The contribution of various determinants to inequality was estimated by decomposing concentration indices in ۱۹۹۵-۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۰. Finally, changes in inequality were investigated using Oaxaca-type decomposition technique.   Results Pro-rich inequality in neonatal mortality was declined by ۱۶%, ie, the normalized CI dropped from -۰.۱۴۹۰ in ۱۹۹۵-۲۰۰۰ to -۰.۱۲۵۴ in ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۰. The largest contribution to inequality was attributable to mother’s education (۳۲%) and household’s economic status (۴۹%) in ۱۹۹۵-۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۰, respectively. Changes in mother’s educational level (۱۲۱%), use of skilled birth attendants (۷۹%), mother’s age at the delivery time (۲۵-۳۴ years old) (۵۴%) and using modern contraceptive (۲۹%) were mainly accountable for the decrease in inequality in neonatal mortality.   Conclusion Policy actions on improving households’ economic status and maternal education, especially in rural areas, may have led to the reduction in neonatal mortality inequality in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Neonatal Mortality ، Socio-Economic Inequality ، Oaxaca Decomposition ، Iran