The infant mortality rate in Ciego de Avila of 6.4 per 1000 live births so far this year, although lower than the national target of 6.5, is a result that should not be taken lightly, especially if one takes into account that it is higher than the previous year and is obtained with a lower number of births.
Dr Yastra Nolasco Pérez, a paediatrician with the Maternal and Child Care Programme (PAMI) in the territory, told Invasor that up to 11 May 2025, 628 births were registered, compared to 925 at the same stage in 2024, which means 297 fewer.
He listed among the main causes of death, neonatal morbidity, low birth weight and preterm birth, with the highest incidence in the municipalities of Bolivia, Ciro Redondo and Ciego de Avila. Chronic arterial hypertension is also a health problem, with its over-pregnancy, which means that pregnancies do not reach full term and have to be terminated before 37 weeks, he explained.
These factors, also associated with adolescent pregnancy, led to low birth weight in 41 newborns during the first months of the year.
The specialist reported that the mortality rate for pre-school children was 3.4 with two deaths and 2.2 for school children with four deaths.
She listed among the actions to reduce these indicators, the implementation of health interventions to re-evaluate one hundred percent of infants (under one year of age) and pregnant women in each municipality, in addition to other tasks oriented at the country level as part of the programme.
Likewise, it has been determined that all adolescent pregnant women should be admitted to maternity homes from 20 weeks and to hospitals from 36 weeks, in order to arrive at the time of delivery in optimal conditions, as these girls are the ones with the highest rate of low birth weight.
Ciego de Avila closed the year 2024 with an infant mortality rate of 5.8 per 1000 live births, the best in five years and the 13th in the history of the province since 1977, as a result of the quality of medical care, intersectoral work and political will.
