Infant Mortality Rates in Third World Countries

Infant Mortality Rates in Third World Countries

Although the past century has seen dramatic advances in the fields of health services and education, infant mortality and third world countries continues to be a source of heartache and grief. The great strides that medicine has made in the twentieth century have not made their way to most third world nations and infant mortality rates reflect this demoralizing fact.

Infant mortality rates are based on the birth of 1,000 infants. So a rate of seven, which the United States currently experiences, means that out of every one thousand babies born, seven will die before its first birthday. Currently, the United States ranks thirtieth among the wealthier nations for its infant mortality rates.

Infant mortality and third world countries have alarming statistics. For example in Afghanistan the infant mortality rate is 165 deaths for every thousand babies born. With 182 infants, out of 1000 born, dying before their first birthdays, the infant mortality rate in Sierra Leone are even more alarming. In Angola, 170 babies out of every thousand born, and in Niger the rate is 166 deaths, and in Liberia the infant mortality rate is 157 babies out of every thousand born.

Infant mortality rates in other third world countries range from 95 in Madagascar to 144 in Mali. With the highest rates occurring in the sub-Saharan countries, there appears to be a direct tie-in between poverty rates and infant mortality rates. With droughts, famines, civil war and rebellions, ravaging their countries poverty runs rampant. When this poverty is combined with poor overall health care, it is little wonder why infant mortality and third world countries have such high rates of infant deaths.

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