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Infant mortality in Cabinda, Angola: challenge to health public policies
Razao Simao1, Paulo Rogerio Gallo2
1Department of Public Health of Cabinda, Angola.
Insights
Infant mortality in Cabinda, Angola, remains high, with malaria and perinatal issues as leading causes. Improving prenatal care and sanitation is crucial for reducing child deaths.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Demography
Background:
- Infant mortality presents a significant public health challenge in many developing regions.
- Data on infant mortality in Cabinda, Angola, is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze infant mortality data from public health services in Cabinda, Angola.
- To identify key causes and determinants of infant deaths in the region.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of infant deaths (under one year) in Cabinda province for 2007 and 2008.
- Utilized provincial hospital and WHO office records due to data limitations.
Main Results:
- Infant mortality rates showed a decrease from 2007 to 2008.
- Malaria was the leading cause of death, followed by pneumonia and tetanus.
- Neonatal asphyxia and prematurity increased as causes of infant mortality.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing prenatal care and delivery attendance can reduce infant mortality.
- Poor sanitation, water supply, and healthcare access are significant determinants.
- Reorganization of the civil registration system is essential.
Objective:
To critically discuss, describe and analyze the data on infant mortality provided by public health services of Cabinda, Angola.
Method:
The deaths of children aged less than one year old in 2007 and 2008 were analyzed in the Cabinda province. Provincial hospital records and those of the WHO office were used due to the limited quality and availability of official information.
Results:
In 2007, 11,734 children were born, and 366 of them died in their first year of life: 113 on the first day, 87 by the 28th day and 166 in the remaining 337 days. In 2008, 13,441 children were born and 275 died; 109 died on the first day and 69 by the 28th day. Malaria was the main cause of death (one out of three). Pneumonia was the second cause in 2007 and the third in 2008, presenting consistent reduction, from 65 to 40 deaths. Cases of diarrhea from 2007 (9.83%) decreased to 3.27% in 2008. Tetanus accounted for about 5% of all deaths. Perinatal causes increased in proportion, particularly neonatal asphyxia (17.75% in 2007 and 26.90% in 2008) and prematurity (13.38% in 2007 and 17.45% in 2008).
Conclusions:
Improvements in the quality of prenatal care, attendance during delivery and to new born risk, would reduce infant mortality. The lack of sanitation, inadequate water supply and poor access to health services played an important role as determinants of infant mortality observed in Cabinda. This study highlights the need to reorganize the civil registration system.
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