HEALTH PROGRAMS TO TARGET MOTHER AND INFANT MORTALITY

ArmenPress
June 2 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: Maternal and infant mortality rates still
continue to remain be high in Armenia. Among the most pressing problems
are the increasing rate of pre-birth mortality rate, widespread anemia,
especially among pregnant women and early childhood, widespread
endemic deficit of iodine, continuous birth of low weight children,
high abortion rates.

The average three month rates for maternal mortality for 100,000
births was 43.3 in 1999-2001 and infant mortality rate for 1000 birth
was 14 in 2002. Figures are not available for 2003.

Last year, 36.700 children were born in Armenia, 540 of who died.

The great majority of Armenian mothers keep to breast feeding.
Among 100 children of 1 year at least 69 receive beast feeding up to
4 months, which reduces mortality risk up to 7-10 times.