Infant mortality in Cuba, 1969-1988
Riverón Corteguera, R.; Ríos Massabot, N.E.; Carpio Sabatela, R.
Bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization 23(3): 273-283
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0085-4638 PMID: 2790354 Document Number: 364556
The available statistical data indicate that Cuba's infant mortality fell substantially, by roughly 71.5%, between 1969 and 1987. Especially great gains were made against late neonatal (7-27 days) and postneonatal (28 days-11 months) mortality, though reduction in early neonatal (0-6 days) mortality was also substantial, amounting to about 54.3%. In general, the gains were spread fairly evenly among the country's provinces, with infant mortality tending to remain higher in the eastern provinces than in the central and western regions. A key factor contributing to these improvements was a policy decision made in th early 1960s that assigned highpriority to the health sector and led to major improvements in the health services' organization, quality, and coverage. Other changes that seem to have made significant contributions to this trend include improvements in living standards, sanitary and epidemiologic conditions, outpatient medical care, hsopital care, and health technology.