Rapid Decline in Infant and Child Mortality

Abstract

The present study uses the nationwide data of the 1990 Child Survival Survey to examine levels, trends, and differentials of infant and child mortality. The analysis reveals a considerable infant and child mortality decline during the period [1976][1977][1978][1979][1980][1981][1982][1983][1984][1985][1986][1987]. The infant mortality declined from 81 in 1976 to 38 per 1,000 live births in 1987. During the same period, the child mortality rate under five years declined from 113 to 42 per 1,000 live births. The findings of the survey also showed a significant differential of infant and child mortality by (a) urban/rural settings, (b) geographical regions, and (c) parental education.OAM Nour, YY Al-Mazrou, SN Shehri, M Khalil, MK Farag, Rapid Decline in Infant and Child Mortality. 1992; 12(6): 565-570 Although recent decades have witnessed considerable progress in the advancement of health services and improvements in environmental sanitation and personal hygiene in Saudi Arabia, very few studies have been conducted on the national level to examine the impact of these improvements of child health and child survival. Most of the earlier demographic and health surveys were not large enough to provide reliable national estimates of infant and child mortality. These surveys were either based on hospital data or based on information collected for specific geographical settings.The study of perinatal and infant deaths in Dhahran in the Eastern region, by John The objective of the present study was to examine the levels, trends, and differentials of infant and child mortality using data from a nationwide survey. The present study also discusses factors responsible for infant and child mortality changes in Saudi Arabia. These factors are related to health services and health utilization, and factors related to improvements in socioeconomic characteristics. It has long been recognized that the study of levels, trends, and differentials of infant mortality is not just of academic concern, but has substantial implications for health policies and programs. Moreover, infant and child mortality is a sensitive index of health conditions and standard of living for a country. The infant mortality level is also an indicator of the effectiveness of health services, environmental quality, and overall welfare of the people [6].