Infant Mortality Rate from 2007-2009 in Falluja City, Western Iraq

Abstract

Background: Infant mortality is considered one of the most sensitive indicators of the health status of a community. Fallujah lacks accurate information on mortality and related indicators. Reporting of infant deaths is defective. Causes of death in general are grossly misrepresented in death certificates.Objectives: Estimating the IMR in Fallujah city, Al-Anbar governorate, Iraq , during the years 2007, 2008, & 2009.Patients & methods: This is a review of hospital records involving all live births & deaths occurring from the beginning of January 2007 to 31 December 2009. The data were collected from files of patients admitted to the neonatal & children hospital wards during the studied years, from birth & death certificates recorded in the hospital & Fallujah health vital statistics center. Data collected included name, age, sex, residence, place & date of death.Results: The IMR was 75/1000 live births in 2007, 67.4/1000 live births in 2008, & 65.9/1000 live births in 2009. About 83.8% of deaths occur during the neonatal period, & 16.2% in the postneonatal period, the male IMR (89/1000 live births) was higher than female IMR (50.4/1000 live births). The studied dead infants were 52.8% in the rural & 47.2% in the urban areas.Conclusion: IMR didn't show much difference during the 3 studied years this may reflect the fact that there was no much improvement in the social, health economic in addition to the security situation during the studied years.Key words: Infant, mortality rate, Fallujah, Iraq.