Seasonal Variation of Neonatal and Infant Deaths by Cause in Greece

Abstract

The seasonal variation of neonatal and infant deaths in Greece was analyzed for nine consecutive years (1979–1987) by cause of death, age of death and urbanization of permanent residence. Data were supplied by the National Statistical Service of Greece. Statistical analysis was done using the Edward's method. The seasonal patterns of the number of deaths and death rates were similar. Neonatal deaths in total did not show significant seasonality but post-neonatal deaths showed seasonal variation with a peak in the winter, more evident in rural areas. Neonatal deaths from prematurity showed statistically significant seasonal variation with a peak in May. Postneonatal deaths from infections and mainly those from pneumonia showed very significant seasonal variation with a peak in February that was more prominent in rural areas. Seasonal pattern with peak in late winter was also found for postneonatal deaths from injuries. The seasonal patterns for neonatal and postneonatal deaths from sudden infant death syndrome were suggestive of an increased occurrence during the winter months mainly in urban areas.

Keywords

seasonal variation neonatal death infant death cause of death urbanization

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Sakamoto-Momiyama M. , Changes in the seasonality of human mortality: a medico-geographical study. Soc Sci Med 1978; 12: 29–42.

2. Masse LMF , Verdier J , Lenan MJ. , Seasonal variations of mortality in Dakar and implications in public health planning. Br J Prev Soc Med 1973; 26–27: 67.

3. Kielmann A.A. , McCord C. , Weight-for age an index of risk of death in children. Lancet 1978; i: 1247–50.

4. Peterson D.R. , Van Belle G , Chinn NM. , Epidemiologic comparisons of sudden infant death syndrome with other major components of infant mortality. Am J Epidemiol 1979; 110: 699–707.

5. Hare E.H. , Moran PAP , MacFarlane A. , The changing seasonality of infant deaths in England and Wales 1912–78 and its relation to seasonal temperature. J Epidemiol Community Health 1981; 35: 77–82.

6. National Statistical Service of Greece. Vital Statistics of the Population of Greece. Annual. Table 11.

7. Tzoumaka-Bakoula C. , Assessment of the incidence of perinatal deaths in Greece using two separate sources. In: Golding J , ed. The third report of WHO study of social and biological effects on perinatal mortality. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 1987; 3: 389–90.

8. Modelmog D , Rahlenbeck S , Trichopoulos D. , Accuracy of death certificates: a population based, complete-coverage, one-year autopsy study in East Germany. Cancer Causes Control 1992; 3: 541–6.

9. Edwards JH. , The recognition and estimation of cyclic trends. Ann Hum Genet 1961; 25: 83–7.

10.

10. Rothman K.J. , Boice JD. Epidemiologic Analysis with a Programmable Calculator. Boston Massachusetts, Epidemiologic Resources Inc., 1982.

11.

11. MacMahon B , Pugh TF. Epidemiology, Principles and Methods. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1970.

12.

12. Rantakallio P. The effect of northern climate on seasonality of births and the outcome of pregnancies. Acta Paed Scand 1971; Suppl 218: 1–67.

13.

13. Last JM. Public health and preventive medicine. Norwalk Connecticut: Appleton-Century-Croffs, 1986.

14.

14. Behrman R.E. , Baughan VC. Nelson: Textbook of paediatrics. W.B. Saunders Co, 1983.

15.

15. Elwood JH. , Anencephalus in Belfast. Incidence and secular and seasonal variations, 1950–66. Br J Prev Soc Med 1970; 24: 78–88.

16.

16. Tokuhata G.K. , Digon E , Mann L. , Prenatal care and obstetric abnormalities. Experiences of 185000 Pennsylvania births. J Chronic Dis 1973; 26: 163–85.

17.

17. Murphy MFG , Campbell MJ. , Sudden infant death syndrome and environmental temperature: an analysis using vital statistics. J Epidemiol Community Health 1987; 41: 63–71.