One of the indicators of the country's overall development, a characteristic of its economic and cultural level, is the mortality rate of the population, and especially children. The calculation is based on the number of children who died during a certain period. There is also the term "infant mortality." This indicator most clearly reflects the demographic situation in the state. As well as the level of medical care to the population.
What is infant mortality?
Infant mortality is otherwise called infant. But this definition is not true. Infancy counts from zero to a year. And therefore, in order to calculate the demographic level of development in the country, it is these indicators that are taken. Also, infant mortality is a kind of indicator that reflects all types of assistance to children and mothers, the socio-economic situation in the country, and material and sanitary conditions. Also, this indicator includes the well-being of the population, the effectiveness of preventive work on epidemiological measures.
Health authorities, after analyzing the dynamics and causes of child mortality, can conduct a number of activities that will reduce the negative rate. It also makes it possible to develop ways to combat the harmful habits of youth, to strengthen a healthy lifestyle. If the state and all its authorities will fight to reduce mortality among infants, this will make it possible to increase the birth rate and the level of socio-economic development.
Actual significance of the problem
Today, the demographic issue is very acute. Every year, infant mortality in Russia is becoming an increasingly relevant topic for discussion. Although since 1985 this indicator in the Russian Federation has tended to decrease steadily, in some regions the situation is the opposite. For example, according to 2015, the largest increase in infant mortality was recorded in the Pskov, Kaluga, Smolensk and Oryol regions, as well as in Karachay-Cherkessia and the Republic of Mari El.
The health system identifies a number of reasons why you should pay attention to the problem.
- In infancy, the child is least protected. Parents take full responsibility for the care and maintenance of vital components for their child. If a country begins a crisis and an unstable economic and social situation, then the population suffers first of all. It follows from this that parents cannot fully protect and provide their child with everything necessary.
- In times of crisis, reproductive health is declining in the state. Various factors can affect this, and the percentage of pathological births can increase, which very often leads to infant mortality.
- Instability of birth rate and mortality. This is especially evident if there is no adequate material support and assistance from the state.
All of the above is only a small part of the problem, which is currently very acute. In order to reduce the infant mortality rate, it is very important to identify the true causes of its occurrence.
Infant mortality: causes
The causes of infant mortality mainly depend on the level of development of the country. How timely medical and material assistance is provided to the population is reflected in demographics. If we take underdeveloped countries, the mortality rate there is very high, since infants and mothers can not always be provided with timely help. In highly developed countries, this figure is declining, as many babies have quality care.
Infant mortality has a number of reasons that affect its level, such as:
- Exogenous - mainly occur in the perinatal period. If you help the baby in time, the child survives.
- Infectious diseases.
- Accidents.
- Diseases of the respiratory tract - sometimes the child cannot be provided with timely assistance, and he dies.
- Congenital malformations.
- Pathological conditions that arose in the perinatal period.
Seasonality of mortality
Doctors have found that child mortality occurs seasonally. The level rises in the winter and summer months, decreases in the autumn and spring. This pattern was established in the last century. The causes of infant mortality in the summer are due to the increased risk of infectious diseases. And, as you know, in hot weather, bacteria and viruses multiply tens of times faster, therefore, the likelihood of infection of the child increases. And, if the mother’s immunity is low, and the child was born weak, you need to take this very seriously.
In winter, the level of colds increases, and often infant mortality is associated with it. Respiratory diseases are considered one of the main reasons that infant mortality develops during this period. Most often, children die from pneumonia, which is an exogenous cause. A trend can be noted that summer mortality is weakening. But, unfortunately, the winter seasonality remains at a high level.
Infant mortality rate
Infant mortality is characterized from birth to one year. It is used to assess the health of an entire population in the country, as well as the quality of preventive work and medical care for women and children. Several medical forms have been adopted in which infant mortality is to be recorded. These are the following documents:
- Medical death certificate f. 106 / y.
- Medical certificate of perinatal death f. 106 - 2 / y.
These two documents are required for registration of infant death. To calculate the mortality rate, you need to know a certain formula, it looks like this:
- the number of children under one year old who died in a given year should be correlated with the number of children born in a given calendar year.
But these indicators are not accurate, as the number of children born often fluctuates.
WHO recommends a new form of calculation in which infant mortality is more accurately derived. Rats's formula recommends making calculations like this:
- PMS = (number of deceased infants under the age of 1 year for a certain year): (2/3 of births for a given calendar year + 1/3 of births alive in the previous year) x 1000.
This formula is more accurate, but in order for the indicator to be as accurate as possible, an analysis of infant mortality should be carried out. Also, infant mortality rates often fluctuate at different periods of time.
Infant mortality analysis
Learning the indicator and conducting an analysis of mortality, you need to know that it includes:
- Number of deceased children in the current calendar year.
- The number of deaths in each month during the calendar year.
- The number of dead children up to a year.
- Causes of child mortality.
If you take into account the analysis data, you can set the level at which infant mortality will be visible. The formula can be different, it all depends on how reliable the results are needed. Also, do not forget that child mortality is unevenly distributed. All this is included in the general analysis of this phenomenon. The highest mortality rate is observed in the first day after birth, this is the main period. Further, the infant mortality rate is gradually decreasing.
Coefficient
There is a special coefficient that determines the mortality rate of children under one year of age. Previously, the infant mortality rate was the same for all ages. Today it has gradations: infant - from 0 to 1 year, and children's - from 1 year to 15 years. Basically, a tendency was observed that the infant coefficient coincides in magnitude with the mortality rate of people who have reached the age of fifty-five.
The coefficient calculation method is significantly different from all other methods. All this is due to the fact that the infant mortality rate is constantly changing. It can also be drastic changes throughout the year, and it is very difficult sometimes to calculate the correct value. Therefore, the calculations are much simpler: take the number of deceased children in a certain period as a basis and correlate them with the number of children born. There are several more methods for calculating the coefficient, which include characterization of the data and accuracy of the calculation.
Demographic grid
To make it easier to calculate infant mortality rates, a special demographic grid is used. It clearly shows all the data for a certain period of time. Also, a demographic grid is needed to make it easier to correlate dead babies with living ones.
It is a system of squares. Lines that are horizontal are years of age. Vertical lines - calendar years. The number of births in a given calendar year is indicated by a certain number on the grid. Also along the diagonal are lines that carry certain information. These are the lines of life; they indicate the date and year of birth. If death occurs, the line ends with a dot.
There are also special formulas in which infant mortality can be calculated by the number and date of birth.
Mortality reduction
The mortality rate is the main indicator of the health of the nation and the development of the state. And one of the factors of the analysis is the analysis of mortality up to a year. And also the reasons why children die. Also, one should not forget that the development of diseases and mortality directly depends on the work of health authorities and their effective functioning.
Infant mortality, the decrease of which is due to the level of development of socio-economic spheres, should have low rates. And for this, methods of dealing with it should be applied and all spheres of life activity of both the population and the state should be involved. The main steps to reduce mortality should be:
- Support and strengthening preventive health care.
- Social and preventive measures aimed at improving the living standards of the population, preserving the gene pool, and protecting the environment.
- Health interventions to help identify and prevent various diseases.
- Rehabilitation centers.
- Primary prevention aimed at a healthy lifestyle.