Ethnic variations in infant mortality
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Ethnic variations in infant mortality and other birth outcomes in England and Wales, 2006-2012
IRAS ID
159340
Contact name
Jennifer Hollowell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
2.3, PRU project number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Rates of infant mortality and other adverse birth outcomes in the UK vary substantially between ethnic groups. For example, previous research has found that Black Caribbean and Pakistani babies born in the UK are more than twice as likely to die before the age of one compared with White British babies, whereas Bangladeshi babies have similar rates of infant mortality to White British babies.
This study will use national data on all babies born in England and Wales from 2006 to 2012 to describe the patterns of infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes that may contribute to infant mortality by ethnic group and will explore the contribution of a range of factors to these variations.
Specific objectives of the study are: (1) To describe ethnic variations in infant mortality (overall, by timing of death and by cause) and other birth outcomes including preterm birth, birthweight, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA); (2) To explore the individual and joint effects of ethnicity, area deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)) and migration status (UK vs. non-UK born) on these outcomes; (3)To describe ethnic and socioeconomic variations in infant mortality following preterm birth; and (4) To describe ethnic variations in the incidence of sudden unexplained death in infancy (SUDI) and to explore the extent to which these variations are attributable to other factors such as preterm birth.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0493
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion