Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 79 (1996)Causes of UAE National Infant Mortality and Trends over 25 Years Period in AlAin DistrictStudent Authors: Saif Khalfan Mohammed Khalifa Al-KaabiFaculty Supervisors: Dr. C. Oyejide, Dr. A. BenerAbstract:Objective To identify the trends and causes of infant mortality among UAE nationals inAl Ain district from 1991- 1995 and compare that with other parts of the world.Methods The study was performed in Al Ain city. Data was obtained from departmentof preventive medicine, MOH. All UAE national infant deaths - males and females - forthe years 1971-1995 were selected from death certificates.Results Overall infant mortality rate decreased from 25.1 per 1000 in 1979 to 10.5 per1000 in 1995. Over the past 25 years, prematurity was the most common cause ofinfant mortality (37.2%) followed by infections (26.8%) then congenital malformations(17.5%). From 1985 to 1995 congenital malformations became the second commoncause of infant death followed by infections.Conclusions The most common causes of infant mortality among UAE nationals in thepast 25 years have been prematurity and its complications, infection and congenitalmalformations. There have been significant changes in the rate of infant mortality andin the causes of infant death since 1971. Long term trend in infant mortality shows aremarkable decline in the mortality since 1971. In 1995, the most common causes ofinfant mortality are prematurity, followed by congenital malformations, and infections,whereas in 1971 infections were comprised the second most common cause of infantdeath in Al Ain. The majority of infant deaths occurred in the first week of their liefeand just a small percentage occurred in the post-neonatal period.