Infant Mortality in the Belize District from 2016 to 2018

Abstract

Infant mortality has been internationally defined as the number of deaths that occur in a pediatric population during the first year of life. It represents the death risk for children under one year of age. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in order to analyze the behavior of infant mortality in the district of Belize during the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. The study population included all the deceased children less than one year of age during the study period in the Belize District territory per 1000 live births. Results: The infant mortality rate showed an irregular trend; the lowest rate was observed in 2018, with 19 deaths for a rate of 10.3 per 1000 live births. Male sex prevailed with 59.09%. The highest number of infant deaths occurred in the group of mothers aged 20–24 years, 28.4%. The highest death risk was found in the early neonatal group with 45 deaths for a rate of 8.4 per 1000 live births. Conclusions: Infant mortality rates in the Belize District showed an irregular trend, with the lowest mortality rate observed in 2018, 19 deaths for a rate of 10.3 per 1000. Most deceased children had mothers in the 20–24 age group, 28.4%. Infants weighing less than 1000 grams showed the highest death risk. Perinatal conditions were the main cause of death, among which respiratory distress is the leading one.