Social inequality and infant health in the UK: systematic review and meta-analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine the association between area and individual measures of social disadvantage and infant health in the UK.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analyses.

Data sources

26 databases and websites, reference lists, experts in the field and hand-searching.

Study selection

36 prospective and retrospective observational studies with socioeconomic data and health outcomes for infants in the UK, published from 1994 to May 2011.

Data extraction and synthesis

2 independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the studies and abstracted data. Where possible, study outcomes were reported as ORs for the highest versus the lowest deprivation quintile.

Results

In relation to the highest versus lowest area deprivation quintiles, the

SUBMITTER: Weightman AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3378945 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature