Prevention of infant mortality. An agenda for nurse-midwifery

A major health objective of the United States government and the World Health Organization is the reduction of infant mortality by the year 2000. Significant progress in the reduction of infant mortality has been made internationally simply as a consequence of general improvements in public health and nationally as a consequence of increased technological sophistication. Recently, however, there has been an attenuation in the rate of decline, and it becomes necessary to address the unsolved issues that continue to affect morbidity and mortality in the first year of life. Year 2000 objectives related to infant mortality include the reduction of low birth weight and increasing access to prenatal care. Socioeconomic, behavioral, medical, and obstetric factors associated with low birth weight and lack of prenatal care are cited. Personal and political agenda targeted to the achievement of the public health goals are proposed.