Costa Rica
Infant Mortality
Rate Down In
2009, Lowest In
59 Years
The study
reveals that ten
infants less
died in 2009
over 2008,
giving Costa
Rica the lowest
infant mortality
rate in the last
59 years.
Figures from the
Instituto
Nacional de
Estadística y
Censos (INEC) -
census and
statistics board
- reveal that in
2009 there were
75.000 live
births and only
663 deaths.
The reduction is
being attributed
to the purchase
and use of
special
equipment in
prenatal care,
in addition to
better trained
medical
personnel,
especially in
the care of
premature
babies.
The ministra de
Salud, María
Luisa Ávila,
highlighted the
positive impact
of universal
health care for
pregnant women
with good
prenatal care.
Another
encouraging
factor is that
97 percent of
births in the
country now take
place in
hospitals. This
allows for
better attention
of the mother
and the newborn.
The ministra
said that as
part of the
program they
have been
educating
pregnant women
to get more
prenatal care,
controlling
pregnancies and
promoting breast
feeding and the
immediate
contact between
mother and
newborn.
The vice-ministra
de Salud, Ana
Morice,
emphasized that
there was also a
reduction of
deaths from
communicable
diseases like
respiratory
infections,
diarrhea and
meningitis.
Morice said that
the reduction
was due to
vaccinations.
The infant
mortality rate
largely reflects
the living
conditions of
the population
and its
stability is
subject to the
variability of
various social
factors.
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