THE death rate for baby boys born in Blackburn is double the national average, shock statistics revealed today.

The frightening figures, showing health inequality at its worst for more 50 years, reveal that the town is one of the main baby death blackspots in the UK.

The top-level study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said baby boys born in Blackburn, Preston and Halifax ran almost double the average risk of dying before their first birthday.

East Lancashire Health Authority is aware of the high level of infant mortality and has linked it to the high level of social deprivation, particularly among the ethnic community.

Dr Stephen Morton, East Lancashire's public health director, has given several reasons for the death rate. They include strong links between parental smoking and cot death and the increased risk of premature baby deaths among Asian community.

In his latest public health report, he added: "Higher perinatal mortality rates were experienced by women from Pakistan and there is a higher rate of deaths attributed to congenital abnormality in infants of Asian-born mothers.

"Ethnic groups have a higher than average rate of unemployment and are more likely to live in overcrowded owner-occupied accommodation."

The study found strong links between the worst areas for premature mortality and the most disadvantaged districts measured by poverty indicators in the Census.

Reducing the risk of sudden infant death and cutting the prevalence of parental smoking are among the health authority's key aims.

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