Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 6

Written Answers. - Infant Mortality.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

105 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the infant mortality rate in Cork city boundary was the highest in the country for each of the years 1992 and 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4669/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

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:–

Cork County Borough(Cork City)
1992	11.2
1993	12.0
1994	13.9
1995	8.3 (provisional)
1996	11.9 (provisional)
1997	4.6 (provisional)
National
1992	6.5
1993	6.1
1994	5.7
1995	6.3 (provisional)
1996	5.5 (provisional)
1997	6.2 (provisional)

The figures for infant mortality for the Southern Health Board areas of Cork County Borough (Cork City) have been examined by the Southern Health Board going back to 1987. From this examination the Cork City area appears to have had higher infant mortality rates than the national average. However, in 1997, the infant mortality rate for Cork City dropped to 4.6 per 1000 which is below the national average of 6.2 per 1000. The Cork City area also has higher levels of low birth weight babies – a risk factor in itself for infant mortality.

While well developed health services are important in this regard, of even greater significance is to address the associated social and economic factors such as poverty, nutrition and smoking, all of which contribute to poorer health status and consequently higher infant mortality. The Southern Health Board has examined the trends in infant mortality rates and is currently conducting a more detailed investigation into the deaths in question. In particular, the board is examining the cause of each infant death. I understand from the Southern Health Board that the first phase of this investigation is now nearing completion and I look forward to receiving the outcome of this study in due course.