The Relationship between Parental Socioeconomic Status and Mortality in Premature Infants in Hospitals

Introduction: Measuring the patient mortality rate is the most important indicator for the evaluation of healthcare capabilities in intensive care units in hospitals and health systems. This study aims to investigate the impact of the socio economic status of households on premature infant mortality in hospitals affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive and analytic study was conducted in hospitals, having neonatal intensive care units (NICU), affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the spring of 2013. Using the census sampling method, 114 premature infants constituted the sample of the current study. Data was gathered using a questionnaire and analyzed using chi square and Fisher methods. Results: The results of the study showed that there is a significant statistical relationship (P<0.05) between the variables of maternal educational levels, employment status of mothers, birth spacing, history of previous neonatal death, parental smoking history and mothers' self-assessments of economic status of household with premature infant mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Conclusion: According to the results of this study and the relationship between the mentioned variables, increasing health awareness among parents and their education level can be considered as a significant factor in reducing infant mortality and also focusing on promoting healthy behavior can have a desirable impact on the reduction of premature infant mortality.