Infant Mortality Rate in Denizli: Evaluation of Four Consecutive Years

Infant mortality rate is an important indicator of mother and child health. although it was detected as ‰17.6 according to national health statistics 2008, it shows variations in different regions of turkey. in this study, we aimed to evaluate the infant mortality rate and its causes in four year period in denizli beginning from january 2006, infant mortality rates were evaluated by a board formed within directorate of health. information about the cases was gathered from primary care centers, related hospitals and families and thus was evaluated in four - year period. infant mortality rates were found as 10.6‰, 10.1‰, 10.4‰, and 12.3‰ in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. prematurity was the most frequent cause of death (34.4%) and 81.5% of deaths in this group was occurred in early neonatal period. congenital anomalies formed 27% of the deaths. twenty-four (4.1%) patients died due to preventable causes like pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhea. in our province, infant mortality rate increased in 2009. increase in prematurity and preventable deaths seemed to be responsible from this rise. increase in preventable deaths is a warning sign for the evaluation of health services in the primary care centers, and for the evaluation of the quality of prenatal, natal and postnatal follow-ups. increasing quality and quantity of newborn intensive care units, cooperation with families and regular follow-ups after discharge will likely decrease the infant mortality related to prematurity.