Analysis of infant mortality and associated factors. Chile 1998

Abstract

Recent trends and features of infant mortality in Chile are analysed in this paper. Basic information from the Chilean National Institute of Statistics, W.H.O. and the Latin American Centre of Demography were used for the analysis. The present rate of 10.3 deaths per 1000 births is one of the three lowest in Latin America and the downward trend has reduced to a quarter of that observed 20 years ago. More than half of the deaths are due to neonatal and congenital problems. Other important causes are respiratory diseases, accidents and communicable diseases. Infant mortality rates in the Chilean regions varies from 8.9 to 14.2. No significant correlation was found between regional figures and availability of physicians, hospital beds or income levels. Data analysis did confirm the significance of high parity, older age and low education level of the mother. Less significance was noticed for rural life, the condition of illegitimacy or the condition of working mother. Low birth weight children had a risk 16 times greater than babies with a normal birth weight.