MORTALITY OF BABIES

B.Lovcevic

Medical Center - Kumanovo, Macedonia

“11 Noemvri” 11, 1300 Kumanovo, Macedonia

 

            The trend of the mortality of babies in Kumanovo community is constant but unsatisfied (1953 – 160.8, 1999 – 13.5). As a complex problem it is in correlation with the natality (1953 – 39, 1999 – 17.2 ), natural accession (1953 – 21.4, 1999 – 8.4 ), literacy (1953 – 60.3 %, 1994 – 93.4 % literate), hygienic habits, social and economic conditions, availability of healthy service, transport connections, delivery in hospital or at home with professional help, the length of breast feeding, two kind and mixed food, anti-rachitic prophylaxis, permanent immunization, clean drinking water. The population structure is multi-national: Macedonians, Albanians, Gypsies, Turks, Serbs, etc. The population has been increased by natural accession and by migration (1953 – 65530, 1994 – 127814). Health education – the doctors gave popular lectures everywhere. A big quantity of industrially prepared baby food has been distributed. The percentage of the immunization and re-immunization in 2000 for all vaccines is 93% to 97%. The obstetric Ward has been organized according the highest European and American standards with project “Hospitals – friends to babies”. In the structure of the mortality of the babies have priority pneumonias, diarrheas, prematures and congenital malformations. The preventive protection has been done by the pediatricians and patronage service: 3 visits to nursing mother in average, doctors checkups of newborn at home; in counseling service for newborn and children: for healthy children 8 checkups in average, and for risky ones – 10 checkups and more. The most relevant index for all these is the decrease of the mortality of the babies.

 

 
0656