Child mortality has significantly declined in the DR in the past four years, according to Public Health authorities. In 1996 child mortality was 42.4/1,000 births. It was reduced to 25/1,000 in 1999 and an estimated 22.9/1,000 births by the end of this year. National Health Director, Rafael Schiffino said that the most outstanding reductions have occurred in the post-natal stage, that is babies more than 28 days old whose deaths declined 70%.
