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Infant mortality among Arabic-speakers in Quebec, Canada, 1989–2017

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Abstract

Background

We assessed trends in infant mortality for Arabic-speakers in Quebec, Canada between 1981 and 2017.

Methods

We computed infant mortality rates for Arabic versus French and English-speakers in Quebec over time. We used adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to investigate trends among Arabic-speakers according to socioeconomic status, age, and cause of death.

Results

Infant mortality rates were 3.0 for Arabic-speakers and 5.1 for French and English-speakers per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality increased for Arabic-speakers between 1989–1995 and 2010-2017 (aRR 2.07; 95% CI, 1.04–4.12), but decreased for French and English-speakers (aRR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73–0.81). The increase in infant mortality was greater for socioeconomically advantaged Arabic-speakers (aRR 2.52; 95% CI, 1.20–5.28) and early neonatal mortality (aRR 1.64; 95% CI, 0.98–2.76).

Discussion

Arabic-speakers in Quebec have a lower risk of infant mortality than French and English-speakers, but increasing infant mortality among Arabic-speakers is narrowing the gap.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Health Canada via the McGill Training and Retention of Health Professionals Project [3.1/2019-2021/06/01], and the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé [34695].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Clara Bolster-Foucault & Nathalie Auger

  2. Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Marianne Bilodeau-Bertrand, Améyo Djeha & Nathalie Auger

  3. University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Nathalie Auger

  4. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Nathalie Auger

Authors
  1. Clara Bolster-Foucault
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  2. Marianne Bilodeau-Bertrand
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  3. Améyo Djeha
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  4. Nathalie Auger
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Correspondence to Nathalie Auger.

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Bolster-Foucault, C., Bilodeau-Bertrand, M., Djeha, A. et al. Infant mortality among Arabic-speakers in Quebec, Canada, 1989–2017. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 215–221 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01115-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01115-1

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