Individual deprivation, regional deprivation, and risk for oral clefts in Argentina

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública Vol. 41; p. e110
• Main Authors: Pawluk, Mariela Soledad, Campaña, Hebe, Rittler, Monica, Poletta, Fernando Adrián, Cosentino, Viviana R, Gili, Juan Antonio, Gimenez, Lucas Gabriel, López Camelo, Jorge Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Pan American Health Organization (Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud) 01-01-2017; Organización Panamericana de la Salud
• Subjects: Births; Censuses; Demography; Deprivation; Health Policy & Services; Hospitals; Illnesses; Low income groups; Mothers; Newborn babies; Original Research; Orofacial clefts; Prenatal care; Propensity; Residence; Risk factors; Socioeconomic status; Argentina; fissura palatina; Argentina; Cleft lip; fisura del paladar; clase social; classe social; social class; cleft palate; Fenda labial; Labio leporino
• ISSN: 1020-4989; 1680-5348; 1680-5348
• DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.110

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of individual low socioeconomic status (SES) and deprived geographical area (GA) on the occurrence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) in Argentina.
This case-control study included 577 newborns with isolated CL±P and 13 344 healthy controls, born between 1992 and 2001, from a total population of 546 129 births in 39 hospitals in Argentina. Census data on unsatisfied basic needs were used to establish the degree of geographical area deprivation. An SES index for each individual was established, using maternal age, gravidity, low paternal and maternal education, and low-level paternal occupation. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of low SES and of deprived GA on CL±P.
A slightly increased risk of CL±P was observed in mothers with a low SES, while a deprived GA showed no effect. Native ancestry, acute maternal illnesses, and poor prenatal care were significant risk factors for CL±P for the mothers with low SES, after using propensity scores to adjust for the demographic characteristics in cases and controls.
Low individual SES slightly increased the risk for CL±P, but a deprived GA did not have that effect. There was no interaction between individual SES and deprived GA. Factors related to low individual SES-including poor prenatal care, low parental education, lack of information, and lifestyle factors-should be primarily targeted as risk factors for CL±P rather than factors related to a deprived place of residence.