Child survival in Greenland

The high infant and child mortality in Greenland covers significant differences among geographic regions. In the capital, Nuuk, 14 of 1000 live born children die before their first birthday, in the remote communities of northern and eastern Greenland the figure is 45. An independently higher mortality risk has also been demonstrated in children of mothers with alcohol problems, frequent admissions to hospital, and various other characteristics. A substantial proportion of infant and child deaths are potentially avoidable, either through improved health services or through action at community level. Based on the results of a research project certain concrete actions have been proposed and adopted by the health authorities.