Why Is Infant Mortality A Public Health Issue?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The infant mortality rate is regarded as a highly sensitive measure of population health because there is an association between the causes of infant mortality and other factors that influence the status of whole populations such as economic development, general living conditions, social well-being, rates of illness, …

Why child mortality is an important local issue?

Why is child mortality important?

Under-5 mortality rate is a leading indicator of the level of child health and overall development in countries

. Millennium Development Goal #4 is to reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the mortality rate of children under five.

Why is mortality rate important to public health?

Within the realm of public health, mortality statistics are often

used as a cornerstone in formulating health plans and policies to prevent or reduce premature mortality and improve our quality of life

.

How does infant mortality affect society?

Underreplacement means that when infant mortality is reduced,

the death rate for children will be reduced more than the fertility rate, more children will reach adulthood, and population growth will be faster

.

Why is aware of infant mortality rate important?

The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. In addition to giving us key information about maternal and infant health, the infant mortality rate is

an important marker of the overall health of a society

.

How does infant mortality affect development?

As the mortality rate and thus uncertainty falls, this precautionary demand decreases and so does population growth. At the same time

lower mortality increases a child’s expected life span and hence the return to education, which encourages investment in the child’s human capital.

What is the difference between infant mortality and child mortality?

In demography,

child mortality refers to the death of children under the age of five while infant mortality refers to the death of those under the age of one

.

What is the positive impact of reduce child mortality in the community?

Millennium Development Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Programmes to improve household food security and nutrition information

increase children’s chances of growing to adulthood

. FAO programmes assist poor households and communities to secure access to nutritionally adequate diets and reduce child undernutrition.

What are the effects of child mortality?

Since the risk of infant death, which leads to

shorter birth intervals

, is associated with the mother’s reproductive history, women with child mortality experience are more likely to experience shorter intervals because of the biological effect of subsequent infant death.

How does morbidity and mortality influence the work of public health?

Two measures commonly used for epidemiological surveillance are morbidity and mortality. These measures describe the progression and severity of a given health event. They are

useful tools to learn about risk factors of diseases and compare and contrast health events and between different populations

.

What is infant mortality rate?

Infant mortality rate is an MDG indicator. Definition: Infant mortality rate is

the probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before reaching the age of one, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of that period

.

Which death rate are newborn deaths included?

The net death rate excludes deaths that occur less than 24 hours from admission. The gross death rate is also referred to as the Institutional Death Rate.

Fetal deaths

are included in newborn death rates.

Why is infant mortality high in the US?

Research indicates that

socioeconomic inequality

in the United States is likely a primary contributor to its higher infant mortality rate. Maternal risk factors for infant mortality include maternal obesity (BMI>35) and use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy.

What social determinants of health are infant mortality?


Maternal and child health

are very closely related to social determinants of health that go beyond the impacts of adequate health services provision. Thus, infant mortality is also influenced by socioeconomic and living conditions factors such as income, employment and housing [12].

How does high infant mortality bring change in population?

The death of more infants compels the parents to bear more children due to lack of confidence of their survival. It causes the population growth in the family. Consequently,

the whole population increases

. In this way high infant mortality rate increases the population.

What can infant mortality tell us about the health care of a country?

High infant mortality rates are generally indicative of

unmet human health needs in sanitation, medical care, nutrition, and education

. The infant mortality rate is an age-specific ratio used by epidemiologists, demographers, physicians, and social scientists to better understand the extent and causes of infant deaths.

How does mortality affect society?

The decline in mortality

stimulates investment and generates an income stream which promotes population growth

, but the desire of status hampers fertility and prevents capital- diluting demographic expansion.

Why is the infant mortality rate a sensitive index of level of health in a community?

Infant mortality is the most sensitive indicator of population health. High infant mortality rate (IMR)

reflects the presence of unfavorable social, economic, and environmental conditions during the first year of life

[1–4].

How does infant mortality affect the economy?

In the US, for example, a substantial and statistically significant effect on IMR was associated with

falls in income

. Changes in MMR associated with 10% reduction in (real) GDP per capita. Annual numbers of maternal deaths associated with 10% reduction in (real) GDP per capita.

Why was infant mortality so high in the past?

In more developed countries such as the United States, there was a rise in infant deaths due to

congenital malformations

. These birth defects were mostly due to heart and central nervous system problems. In the 19th century, there was a decrease in the number of infant deaths from heart diseases.

What are the 10 leading causes of infant mortality?

INFANT MORTALITY: TEN (10) LEADING CAUSES NUMBER AND RATE/per 1000 live births AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION Cause Number Rate 1. Bacterial sepsis of newborn 3,608 2.0 2. Pneumonia 2,628 1.5

Why do some countries have high infant mortality rates?

The major causes of infant death in developed countries, which tends to occur in the neonatal period, are

low birth weight, prematurity, birth complications, and congenital defects

; developing countries; they are vaccine preventable infectious diseases, diarrhea and dehydration, and respiratory illnesses, all …

How can we enhance babies chances of survival and health?

  • Preventing Birth Defects.
  • Addressing Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Their Outcomes.
  • Getting Pre-Pregnancy and Prenatal Care.
  • Creating a Safe Infant Sleep Environment.
  • Using Newborn Screening to Detect Hidden Conditions.

What are the major interventions that are saving millions of neonatal infant child and adolescent lives each year?

Access to basic lifesaving interventions such as

skilled delivery at birth, postnatal care, breastfeeding and adequate nutrition, vaccinations, and treatment for common childhood diseases

can save many young lives.

What are the causes of child mortality?

Cause 10-14 Years 1. Pneumonia 233 4.4 2. Accidental drowning and submersion 212 3.6 3. Other diseases of nervous system 150 2.7 4. Transport accidents 172 2.5
Emily Lee
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Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.