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| Asian infant death rate 'higher' | Asian infant death rate 'higher' |
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| Critically ill babies born to South Asian mothers in the UK are nearly twice as likely to die in their first year than other babies, research shows. | Critically ill babies born to South Asian mothers in the UK are nearly twice as likely to die in their first year than other babies, research shows. |
| The infant mortality study was based on more than 40,000 babies admitted into paediatric intensive care in England and Wales between 2004 and 2007. | The infant mortality study was based on more than 40,000 babies admitted into paediatric intensive care in England and Wales between 2004 and 2007. |
| Researchers said that 44% more South Asian infants died before their first birthday than infants of other origins. | Researchers said that 44% more South Asian infants died before their first birthday than infants of other origins. |
| Dr Roger Parslow, from Leeds University, said it was not clear why. | Dr Roger Parslow, from Leeds University, said it was not clear why. |
| The government-commissioned investigation, which was one of the largest of its kind, established an overall death rate of 4.91% among the 40,303 babies in its group - 1,978 deaths in 29 hospitals over the four-year period. | The government-commissioned investigation, which was one of the largest of its kind, established an overall death rate of 4.91% among the 40,303 babies in its group - 1,978 deaths in 29 hospitals over the four-year period. |
| However the death rate of infants born to South Asian mothers was higher - 7.11%, a total of 2,865 infant deaths. | However the death rate of infants born to South Asian mothers was higher - 7.11%, a total of 2,865 infant deaths. |
| Figures from the Office of National Statistics show the overall infant mortality rate in England and Wales is 5.2 deaths in every 1,000 births. | Figures from the Office of National Statistics show the overall infant mortality rate in England and Wales is 5.2 deaths in every 1,000 births. |
| But it also has found that 8.3 out of every 1,000 children born to mothers whose country of birth was Bangladesh, India or Pakistan died before they were one. | But it also has found that 8.3 out of every 1,000 children born to mothers whose country of birth was Bangladesh, India or Pakistan died before they were one. |
| The rate is higher for those born to Pakistani mothers - 10.5 deaths in every 1,000. | The rate is higher for those born to Pakistani mothers - 10.5 deaths in every 1,000. |
| Dr Roger Parslow said underlying conditions could factor | Dr Roger Parslow said underlying conditions could factor |
| The report was completed by a US expert and seven others from across the UK, including Dr Parslow, a senior lecturer in the Department of Paediatric Epidemiology at the University of Leeds. | The report was completed by a US expert and seven others from across the UK, including Dr Parslow, a senior lecturer in the Department of Paediatric Epidemiology at the University of Leeds. |
| He said: "We don't know why this is. | He said: "We don't know why this is. |
| "It is possible that there are underlying conditions in the Asian population that are more prevalent." | "It is possible that there are underlying conditions in the Asian population that are more prevalent." |
| Researchers suggested first cousin marriages often resulted in babies with health problems. | Researchers suggested first cousin marriages often resulted in babies with health problems. |
| Dr Tim Haywood, consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at Leeds General Infirmary said: "We find that consanguinity within Asian parents is a significant risk factor for mortality in these patients." | Dr Tim Haywood, consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at Leeds General Infirmary said: "We find that consanguinity within Asian parents is a significant risk factor for mortality in these patients." |
| Dr Haywood said they saw "a greater medical need" among British Asian infants, adding his team expected "more complicated cases and a higher mortality within this population group". | Dr Haywood said they saw "a greater medical need" among British Asian infants, adding his team expected "more complicated cases and a higher mortality within this population group". |
| The report also found that it is common for South Asian babies to have more than one disease or health condition at the same time. | The report also found that it is common for South Asian babies to have more than one disease or health condition at the same time. |
| While the researchers could not work out exactly why more South Asian babies died, infant mortality can be caused by low birth weight and poor healthcare. | While the researchers could not work out exactly why more South Asian babies died, infant mortality can be caused by low birth weight and poor healthcare. |
| The researchers said a poorer quality of life, health inequalities, deprivation and low incomes in Asian communities could also contribute. | The researchers said a poorer quality of life, health inequalities, deprivation and low incomes in Asian communities could also contribute. |
| When we looked at deprivation and ethnicity, it was the South Asian children from more affluent parts of society who are more likely to die Dr Roger Parslow | When we looked at deprivation and ethnicity, it was the South Asian children from more affluent parts of society who are more likely to die Dr Roger Parslow |
| However, the report found Asian infants from less deprived areas were in fact more likely to die before the age of one. | However, the report found Asian infants from less deprived areas were in fact more likely to die before the age of one. |
| Dr Roger Parslow said: "When we looked at deprivation and ethnicity, it was the South Asian children from more affluent parts of society who are more likely to die. | Dr Roger Parslow said: "When we looked at deprivation and ethnicity, it was the South Asian children from more affluent parts of society who are more likely to die. |
| "In fact there's a slight reduction in the most deprived South Asian groups, which we can't account for." | "In fact there's a slight reduction in the most deprived South Asian groups, which we can't account for." |
| Dr Parslow has called for more to be done to educate Asian families about the risks associated with childbirth, but some work is already under way. | Dr Parslow has called for more to be done to educate Asian families about the risks associated with childbirth, but some work is already under way. |
| The Pregnancy Outreach Worker Programme which aims to help reduce Asian infant mortality has been operating in Birmingham for more than two years. | The Pregnancy Outreach Worker Programme which aims to help reduce Asian infant mortality has been operating in Birmingham for more than two years. |
| Outreach workers Sophia Sharif and Gurdeep Hanspaul try to reduce risks | Outreach workers Sophia Sharif and Gurdeep Hanspaul try to reduce risks |
| Twenty-six community workers support women during their pregnancies. | Twenty-six community workers support women during their pregnancies. |
| Programme manager Gurdeep Hanspaul said: "It's about reducing the risks associated with issues pregnant women might have. | Programme manager Gurdeep Hanspaul said: "It's about reducing the risks associated with issues pregnant women might have. |
| "We get them to focus on their pregnancy, making sure the pregnancy is healthy and therefore the baby is healthy." | "We get them to focus on their pregnancy, making sure the pregnancy is healthy and therefore the baby is healthy." |
| Sophia Sharif, a pregnancy outreach worker, said she was currently helping a Pakistani woman who is expecting her sixth child and suffers from depression and self-harms. | Sophia Sharif, a pregnancy outreach worker, said she was currently helping a Pakistani woman who is expecting her sixth child and suffers from depression and self-harms. |
| "A lot of south Asian ladies don't know what help's out there for them," she said. | |
| "I get a lot of clients who don't speak English very well and they're often isolated. | "I get a lot of clients who don't speak English very well and they're often isolated. |
| "We educated and empower them with anything to help maintain a healthy pregnancy." | "We educated and empower them with anything to help maintain a healthy pregnancy." |
| The Born in Bradford project is trying to recruit more than 12,000 expectant mothers and their children, to help them gather information to tackle the problem. | The Born in Bradford project is trying to recruit more than 12,000 expectant mothers and their children, to help them gather information to tackle the problem. |
| The city's infant mortality rate is higher than the national average. | The city's infant mortality rate is higher than the national average. |
| In London's Tower Hamlets, an advisory service for Bangladeshi women and promotes NHS services and provides health information advice. | In London's Tower Hamlets, an advisory service for Bangladeshi women and promotes NHS services and provides health information advice. |
| Dr Roger Parslow said the research findings should be pursued "rigorously". | Dr Roger Parslow said the research findings should be pursued "rigorously". |
| The researchers will now look for more answers by examining South Asian babies' death certificates. | The researchers will now look for more answers by examining South Asian babies' death certificates. |
| You can hear more on Asian Network Reports at 1230 and 1800 BST on the BBC Asian Network on DAB digital radio or online via BBC iplayer . | You can hear more on Asian Network Reports at 1230 and 1800 BST on the BBC Asian Network on DAB digital radio or online via BBC iplayer . |