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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Measuring Health and Disease

Infant mortality rate

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCore term

In public health & epidemiology, infant mortality rate means: The number of babies who die before their first birthday for every 1,000 live births in a given year.

In Turkish: bebek ölüm hızı

How it is used

One of the most sensitive indicators of a country's overall health and living conditions. It is split into neonatal deaths (first 28 days) and post-neonatal deaths. The under-five mortality rate is a related SDG indicator.

Example sentences

  1. The infant mortality rate fell sharply after clean water reached the villages.

  2. Infant mortality rates are still twice as high in the eastern districts.

Common collocations

  • reduce infant mortality
  • neonatal mortality
  • under-five mortality
  • per 1,000 live births
  • mortality rateThe number of deaths in a population during a period, divided by the size of that population, often given per 1,000 or 100,000 people per year.
  • maternal mortality ratioThe number of women who die from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth for every 100,000 live births, counting deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days after it ends.
  • life expectancyThe average number of years a person of a given age can expect to live if current death rates stay the same, most often reported as life expectancy at birth.
  • Sustainable Development GoalsSeventeen global goals adopted by all UN member states in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and improve lives by 2030; Goal 3 is about health and well-being.

More terms: Measuring Health and Disease

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.