[Worrying trends in infant mortality in France]

WORRYING TRENDS IN INFANT MORTALITY IN France. Infant mortality refers to children born alive and who died in their first year of life. It is an excellent indicator of prevention and of the quality of obstetric and pediatric care in a country. While French figures placed infant mortality in third position in Europe in 1996, France is gradually declining to the 22nd position in 2022. The comparative analysis of neonatal mortality indicates a specific excess of mortality for each gestational age compared to virtuous countries which questions pregnancy care and birth care, particularly in the context of social health inequalities. For older infants, the rate for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death are not decreasing and Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive head trauma is by definition a completely preventable cause. Infectious causes preventable by vaccination persist. The physical and chemical environment as well as poverty create an unfavorable environment for all ages. A discussion on the place of each person in the organization of care from pregnancy to early childhood, primary care in hospital, a better coordination between medical caregivers and nurses in public practice (PMI, CMS) or private practice, and the creation of a single database to provide information on infant mortality and associated risk factors for research purpose, are essential to understand and meet this particularly worrying challenge.