Infant mortality relates to deaths in the first year of life. The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths in the first year of life per 1,000 live births. The principal causes of infant mortality include prematurity, low birth weight, infections, congenital abnormalities i.e. defects present at birth and sudden infant death syndrome or cot death. Infant mortality is affected by complex and multiple factors. It is recognised internationally that one of the major determinants of infant mortality is social and economic circumstances. The infant mortality rates in respect of Cork County Borough (Cork City) and the country as a whole, for the years 1992 to 1997 are:–