W Sulawesi`s Infant Mortality Rate Reaches 353 In 2012

Mamuju, W Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulbar) - West Sulawesi last year recorded 353 cases of infant mortality, suggesting that the province`s infant mortality rate is still high, a health official said.

"This infant mortality rate is the total deaths of infants aged 0-12 months per 1,000 life births within a year. The higher infant mortality rate reflects a public health problem in this region," Head of the West Sulawesi Health Service dr. Achmad Azis said here on Sunday.

He attributed the cases of infant mortality to poor antenatal care, low nutrition status of pregnant women, low successful rates of infant and mother healthcare and family planning programs, and socio-economic condition.

"If the infant mortality rate of a region is high, the health status of the region will belong to the low category," he said.

The province saw 15.2 out of every 1,000 life births die in 2010, compared to 22 out of every 1,000 life births in 2006.

He said the province`s high infant mortality rate has become the center of the provincial and district governments` attention.

"The provincial government will always pay attention to the effort to curb the infant mortality rate. Therefore, West Sulawesi regional hospital which currently serves as a referral hospital will be changed into a maternity and children`s hospital," he said.

"This year the West Sulawesi provincial government will build a world-class hospital of type B in Tambi, about 5 kilometers from the provincial capital Mamuju," he said. Suharto