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Infant mortality in the rural Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia

N al-Nahedh1

  • 1Department of Community and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of the Royal Society of Health
|April 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked infant mortality in five villages, finding a decline in overall infant deaths but high neonatal mortality rates. Improved antenatal and obstetric care are recommended to further reduce infant mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Infant mortality remains a significant public health challenge globally.
  • Understanding regional variations in neonatal and postneonatal mortality is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in a cohort of infants born in 1987.
  • To identify the primary causes of infant deaths in the study population.
  • To assess trends in infant mortality compared to previous estimates and inform public health strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study was conducted in five randomly selected villages.
  • Trained nurses identified all births in 1987 and collected morbidity and mortality data.
  • Demographic and statistical analyses were applied to the collected data.

Main Results:

  • A total of 4,963 live births were recorded during the study period.
  • The neonatal mortality rate was 21.4 per 1,000 live births.
  • The infant mortality rate was 53.8 per 1,000 live births, with a postneonatal death rate of 32.5 per 1,000 live births.
  • Leading causes of infant death included gastroenteritis, respiratory problems, preterm birth complications, and congenital abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • While infant mortality has declined compared to previous estimates, neonatal mortality rates remain high.
  • There is a significant potential for further reduction in postneonatal mortality.
  • Improved antenatal and obstetric healthcare services are urgently needed to address high neonatal death rates.

Keywords:
Arab CountriesAsiaCauses Of DeathDemographic FactorsDeveloping CountriesInfant MortalityMortalityPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsPopulation DynamicsResearch ReportRural PopulationSaudi ArabiaWestern Asia

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