Infant mortality, ethnicity, and genetically determined disorders in The Netherlands

Authors: Schulpen, Tom W.J.; van Wieringen, Joke C.M.; van Brummen, Pien J.; van Riel, Jantien M.; Beemer, Frits A.; Westers, Paul; Huber, Jonne

Source: European Journal of Public Health, Volume 16, Number 3, June 2006 , pp. 290-293(4)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

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Abstract:

Background: Infant mortality of ethnic minorities in The Netherlands (10% of the population) is twice as high as in the indigenous Dutch population. Causes of death are different for the diverse migrant groups. Methods: Hospital records of nearly 600 infants who died in the four major cities between 1995 and 1998 were analysed according to the cause of death, ethnicity, and possible hereditarity. Results: There was a four to five times higher proportion of hereditary causes of death in the Moroccan and Turkish population, compared with the Surinamese/Antillians and indigenous Dutch. Conclusions: This might be explained by a high inbreeding coefficient as three-quarters of the marriage partners are recruited from the home villages and between a quarter and a third of these marriages are between first cousins. Health promotion activities in The Netherlands have not been successful so far. Preconception genetic counselling might help in reducing these differences.

Keywords: consanguinity; ethnicity; genetics; infant mortality; The Netherlands

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cki201

Publication date: 2006-06-01

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The European Journal of Public Health is a multidisciplinary journal in the field of public health, publishing contributions from social medicine, epidemiology, health services research, management, ethics and law, health economics, social sciences and environmental health.