ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

Infant and Maternal Mortality rates reflect the prosperity of a country. Although showing regional variations, infant and maternal mortality rates were reported as 29.0‰ and 28.5/100 000 in Turkey respectively. We aimed to evaluate the rates and causes of infant and maternal mortality during last two years in Denizli.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Beginning from January 2006, data related to infant and maternal mortality were evaluated on a monthly basis by a board formed in the Directorate of health.

RESULTS:

Infant mortality rate was 10.7‰ and 10.1‰ in 2006 and 2007 respectively. While 139 (50%) babies were lost in early neonatal period, 39 (14%) in late neonatal and 100 (36%) in infancy period. The incidence of congenital anomaly was lower in the group of early neonatal deaths (p<0.05). Cardiac (32 %) and central nervous system anomalies (19%) were most frequenty encountered. Life span was shorter and birth weight was lower in the group without congenital anomaly (p<0.05), and prematurity and related problems were the most frequent cause of death. Maternal mortality and direct maternal mortality rates respectively were 30.3 and 22.7 in 100 000 live births for year 2006, and 51.8 and 22.2 in 100 000 live births for year 2007.

CONCLUSIONS:

Prematurity and presence of congenital anomaly were main causes of death. Infant mortality rate slightly decreased in year 2007 compared to 2006. Although infant mortality rate was lower, maternal mortality rate was higher than mean values of our country. Improving the quality of prenatal and postnatal care and preventive health care measurements will likely reduce mortality.