3/2007Analysis of perinatal and infantile mortality in Lower Silesia County compared to Poland

DAGMARA POKORNA-KALWAK (Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Rodzinnej Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu; Kierownik: prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Steciwko)

Background
The essential element of modern neonatology is not only saving lives of the smallest newborns, but also supplying the highest quality of medical service for the purpose of achievement the optimal child development, both physical and psychological. From the early nineties to 1999 the number of births in Poland was declining – in 1999 the birth rate was 0.0 per 100 000. From year 2000 it slightly increased to 0.3, and in 2004 it was 1.24. In Lower Silesia County the birth rate in 2004 was negative and amounted to -120.5. Perinatal and infantile mortality investigated in this study are considered as negative indicators of population’s health state.

Material and methods
The official data from Central Statistical Office and Statistical Office in Wroclaw were used for analysis.

Results
Tendencies in perinatal and infantile mortality noted in Poland were assessed as positive. The infantile mortality in analyzed period between 1990 and 2005 occurred to be declining: in 1999 it was 11.11 per 1000 live births and 8.11 in 2004 – and in 2005 it was even 6.92. Considering years 1990–2005 the largest changes in infantile mortality rate were noted in subsequent counties: lubuskie (16.95 points), kujawsko-pomorskie (16.46 points), swietokrzyskie (15.68 points) and opolskie (15.36 points). On the contrary the smallest changes were noted in subsequent counties: malopolskie (9.59 points), podkarpackie (10.65 points) and warminsko-mazurskie (10.84 points).

Key words: perinatal mortality, infantile mortality, Lower Silesia