So far this year, there have been 917 infant deaths reported at public hospitals, 208 more than over the same period last year, when there were 709. In some provinces the situation is of greater concern. For instance, in Barahona, infant deaths are up 800%. In 2017 there were nine deaths, and so far this year the figure is 38.
According to official records, other provinces with significant increases are La Romana with 500% (from eight over the time period last year to 14 so far this year); La Vega with 150% (from 25 to 41); Santiago with 150% (from 76 to 126); Azua with 100% (from eight to 16) and Elias Piña with 200% going from 11 to 22.
Sánchez Ramírez went from 13 infant deaths year to date last year to 16 this year; Monte Plata from eight to 18; Hato Mayor from three to seven and Santo Domingo from 198 to 295.
However, some provinces have also showed a reduction over the same time period with the National District going from 87 last year to date to 56 this year. In Santo Domingo, at the Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia maternity hospital in there were 139 deaths so far this year and at the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Children’s hospital there were 73 infant deaths. These two combined have an infant mortality rate of 27 per thousand live births, the same rate as last year.
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Listin Diario
1 May 2018
