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RESEARCH PRODUCT

1440 Child Mortality Under Five in Latvia, Causal Relationship and Reduction Possibilities in An International Context

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Background and aims: To identify the reasons of the continuously highest infant and under five mortality (U5M) rates in Latvia (since restoration of independence) within EU - 25, in order to find solutions to minimize the mortality rate in accordance with Millenium Development Goals (MDG). Methods: Analytical study of statistical data bases was performed by monitoring reports, private publications to find causal relationship in international aspect between U5M in Latvia and following factors: GDP, health budget per capita, Gini coefficient, medical service availability, etc. Results: Structure of U5M in Latvia differs from EU-25, being 2 to 10 times higher by reason of external causes of death. Incidence of sudden infant death syndrome, infant mortality caused by developmental disorders and in-born abnormalities are also noticeably higher. Conclusions: Mistakes in state policy regarding health issues are obvious since the regaining of independence. Availability of medical services covered by state health insurance was extremely decreased for population of Latvia compared to Baltic neighbouring countries. Gini coefficient is among the highest within EU-25 whereas health budget per capita as percentage of GDP is the lowest one by purchasing ability. This places Latvia in marginal position of industrialized countries of European region. Political will volition is decisive to diminish U5M, by providing adequate percent of GDP for health budget, sufficient access to medical care via social inclusion, health insurance, public campaigns preventing SIDS, external death causes and advertising importance of early ultrasound diagnostics.