The document discusses infant mortality rate (IMR), defined as the number of deaths of infants under one year per 1000 live births. IMR is an important indicator of population health and development. The document notes that Malawi's IMR has historically been high due to factors like limited healthcare access, but it has declined in recent years. It provides IMR statistics for Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and South Africa. The document also outlines how to calculate IMR using a formula and example, and explains why reducing IMR is important for public health in Malawi, such as to curb infectious diseases and support economic development. Finally, it lists several roles for public health personnel to play in lowering IMR, such as implementing health education,

1. Infant Mortality Rate

2. Objectives
• Defining the terms
• Describe what is Infant Mortality Rate?
• Differentiate the trends for Malawi and other
developing countries
• What was the trend for IMR for Malawi in the past five
years
• How to calculate Infant Mortality Rate
• Why is it important to be concerned with the measure
in Malawi
• Role as PH personnel to reduce the Infant Mortality
Rate

3. Definition of Terms
• Infant : refers to a baby from birth to about 2
months of age.
• Mortality: the state of being subjected to
death
• Mortality Rate: is a measure of the number of
deaths in a particular population, per unit of
time.

4. What is Infant Mortality Rate?
• Is a crucial demographic indicator that indicates
the number of deaths occurring in infants under
the age of one year, typically expressed per 1,000
live births.
• It is a critical indicator of the health and well-
being of a population, particularly in relation to
maternal and child health care, social and
economic development, and the overall quality of
healthcare and living conditions within a country.

5. Differentiating the trends for Infant Mortality Rate
for Malawi and other developing countries
Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world, and its
IMR historically has been high. Factors contributing to this include
limited access to quality healthcare services, low socio-economic
conditions, poor maternal health, malnutrition, and a high burden
of infectious diseases. However, efforts to improve maternal and
child health have been underway, including initiatives focused on
improving healthcare access, nutrition, vaccination coverage, and
maternal education.
And in other Developing Countries: It's important to note that
trends in IMR can vary widely among developing countries due to
differences in healthcare systems, infrastructure, socio-economic
conditions, cultural practices, and government policies. Some
developing countries may have made significant progress in
reducing IMR through improved healthcare access, vaccination
programs, and socio-economic development. Others may still
struggle with high IMR due to various challenges.

6. TRENDS OF IMR IN MALAWI
• IMR for Malawi
• 41.9 DEATHS PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS Under-five mortality rate
• 20,931,751 PERSONS Population

7. TRENDS OF IMR IN ZAMBIA
• IMR for Zambia as one of the developing country
• 57.7 DEATHS PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS Under-five mortality
rate
• 20,569,738 PERSONS Population

8. TRENDS OF IMR IN MOZAMBIQUE
• IMR for Mozambique as one of the developing country
• 69.6 DEATHS PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS Under-five mortality rate
• 33,897,354 PERSONS Population
• Trends in under-five mortality rate in Mozambique

9. TRENDS OF IMR IN SOUTH AFRICA
• 32.8 DEATHS PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS Under-five mortality rate
• 60,414,495 PERSONS Population
• Trends in under-five mortality rate in South Africa

10. What was the trend for IMR for
Malawi in the past five years
• The current infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2023 is
32.577 deaths per 1000 live births, a 5.1% decline from
2022.
• The infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2022 was
34.327 deaths per 1000 live births, a 4.85% decline
from 2021.
• The infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2021 was
36.078 deaths per 1000 live births, a 4.63% decline
from 2020.
• The infant mortality rate for Malawi in 2020 was
37.828 deaths per 1000 live births, a 4.42% decline
from 2019.

11. Trends for Infant Mortality Rate in five
past years
37.828
36.078
34.327
32.577
2020 2021 2022 2023
IMR
IMR

12. How to calculate IMR
• Infant Mortality Rate it is calculated as follows:
Formula:
• Example: calculate the infant mortality rate for Malawi for the year
2022.
• Gather Data:
– Total number of infant deaths in Malawi in 2022: 4,500
– Total number of live births in Malawi in 2022: 120,000
• Calculate the Infant Mortality Rate: IMR = (Number of Infant Deaths
/ Number of Live Births) * 1,000
• IMR = (4,500 / 120,000) * 1,000
• IMR = 37.5 per 1,000 live births
1000
births
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No.
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.


No
IMR

13. Why is it important to be concerned
about Infant Mortality Rate in Malawi
• infectious Diseases: High IMR can be indicative of widespread infectious diseases.
Common diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria are major contributors to
infant deaths in many developing countries, including Malawi. Effective public
health campaigns, vaccination programs, and improved sanitation can help combat
these diseases hence reducing the rate.
• Economic Development: A high IMR can hinder economic development. When a
significant portion of the population dies at a young age, it reduces the workforce
and potential human capital for the country's development. Reducing IMR can
contribute to a more productive and economically prosperous society.
• Healthcare Access and Quality: A high IMR often reflects inadequate access to
quality healthcare services, including maternal care, childbirth assistance, and
postnatal care. Addressing IMR requires improving healthcare infrastructure and
ensuring that pregnant women and newborns receive appropriate medical
attention hence reducing the rate.
• Maternal Health: High IMR is closely linked to poor maternal health. High maternal
mortality rates and lack of skilled birth attendants can result in complications
during childbirth that contribute to infant deaths. Addressing IMR necessitates
efforts to enhance maternal health and promote safe childbirth practices.

14. Role as PH personnel to reduce the
Infant Mortality Rate
1. Health Education and Promotion: Conduct health education campaigns
to raise awareness about safe pregnancy practices, maternal nutrition,
and the importance of prenatal care and Promote breastfeeding and
proper infant feeding practices to ensure optimal nutrition and
immunity for infants.
2. Immunization Programs: Coordinate immunization programs to ensure
that infants receive vaccines against preventable diseases, such as polio,
and pneumonia. And to advocate for the importance of vaccination to
improve overall child health and reduce the risk of infant mortality.
3. Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze data on maternal and
infant health outcomes to identify trends, disparities, and areas that
require targeted interventions. Use data to inform evidence-based
policies and programs aimed at reducing IMR.
4. Maternal and Child Nutrition: Work with local communities to promote
adequate maternal nutrition and proper infant feeding practices to
prevent malnutrition and low birth weight. Support initiatives that
address food security and micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy
and infancy.

15. References
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Infant mortality rate (IMR).
https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2021). Levels and Trends in Child
Mortality Report 2020. https://data.unicef.org/resources/levels-and-trends-in-
child-mortality-report-2020/
• World Bank. (2021). Infant Mortality Rate.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.DYN.IMRT.IN
• https://data.unicef.org/country/zaf/
• World Health Organization. (2021). Infant and young child feeding.
• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. (2021). Vaccines Work.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Health Information Systems.
• United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).
(2021). Levels and Trends in Child Mortality: Report 2020.
• World Bank Data. (2021). Infant Mortality Rate.
• Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). (2021). Global Health Data
Exchange.
• https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/MWI/malawi/infant-mortality-
rate#:~:text=Chart%20and%20table%20of%20the%20Malawi%20infant%20mortali
ty,1000%20live%20births%2C%20a%205.1%25%20decline%20from%202022.
• https://data.unicef.org/country/zmb/