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International differences in infant mortality and the impact of malnutrition: a review
Insights
Infant mortality is declining in industrialized nations, with most deaths in the neonatal period due to perinatal issues. In contrast, less-developed countries face high infant mortality, primarily from low birth-weight and diarrheal diseases.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pediatrics
- Demography
Background:
- Infant mortality rates (IMR) continue to decrease in industrialized nations, reaching historically low levels.
- Significant disparities in infant mortality persist globally, with high rates concentrated in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.
- The decline in IMR in less-developed countries over the past two decades has not accelerated and may be slower compared to industrialized nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare the trends and causes of infant mortality in industrialized versus less-developed countries.
- To identify the primary determinants of infant death across different global regions.
- To discuss the implications for public health and nutrition policies.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of infant mortality data from industrialized and less-developed countries.
- Examination of mortality patterns across neonatal and postneonatal periods.
- Identification of key contributing factors such as perinatal causes, congenital anomalies, low birth-weight, and diarrheal diseases.
Main Results:
- In industrialized countries, the majority of infant deaths occur during the neonatal period, primarily due to perinatal causes and congenital anomalies.
- In less-developed countries, while postneonatal deaths are proportionally higher than in industrialized nations, most infant deaths still occur within the first three months of life.
- Low birth-weight and diarrheal diseases are identified as the principal causes of infant mortality in less-developed regions.
Conclusions:
- Addressing infant mortality requires tailored strategies, focusing on perinatal care and congenital anomaly management in developed countries.
- Interventions in less-developed countries must prioritize combating low birth-weight and diarrheal diseases to significantly reduce infant deaths.
- Global health and nutrition policies need to be informed by these regional differences to effectively lower infant mortality worldwide.
Abstract:
In the industrialized countries infant mortality continues to decline even though mortality is already at a low level. The greatest number of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period, especially during the first day of life and the main determinants of infant death are perinatal causes and congenital anomalies. In less-developed countries infant mortality remains high, particularly in Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia. Observed rates of decline during the last 20 years have been no faster than in the industrialized countries and may indeed have been slower. Although a greater proportion of infant deaths occur postneonatally compared with industrialized countries, the majority nevertheless occur within the first 3 months of life. The main causes of infant mortality are low birth-weight and diarrhoeal disease. The implications in terms of health and nutrition policies are discussed.