Neonatal and infant mortality in the Almaty Region: Dynamic analysis and approaches to optimizing the organization of medical care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.1.2026.721Keywords:
neonatal mortality, infant mortality, postneonatal period, primary health care, patronage, antenatal care, Almaty RegionAbstract
Relevance: Worldwide, infant mortality among children aged 0-1 year is a key indicator of socio-economic development, the quality of the healthcare system, and the effectiveness of maternal and child health services. This indicator encompasses two critical periods: the first 28 days of life (the neonatal period) and the period from one month to one year (the postneonatal period).
This article analyzes the cause-and-effect relationships of neonatal and infant mortality using the example of Almaty Region and examines approaches to addressing current challenges at both inpatient and primary health care levels.
The study aimed to analyze neonatal and infant mortality by comparing 10-month indicators for 2024 and 2025 and to identify the leading causes of infant mortality.
Materials and Methods: The study was based on comprehensive monitoring results and official statistical data obtained from medical organizations subordinate to the Health Department of Almaty Region.
Results: A comparative analysis of the 10-month indicators for 2024 and 2025 demonstrated a 37% decrease in the infant mortality rate (from 9.2‰ in 2024 to 5.8‰ in 2025). This positive trend reflects improvements in the quality of healthcare services at all levels of care delivery.
Analysis of age-specific mortality rates per 1,000 live births revealed a downward trend across all age groups: early neonatal mortality decreased by 21.5%, late neonatal mortality by 54.1%, overall neonatal mortality by 38.0%, and postneonatal mortality by 35.4%. The proportion of neonatal mortality within the overall infant mortality structure declined by 1.9%, accounting for 52.2% (compared to 53.2% in the corresponding period of 2024).
A review of medical records of deceased infants confirmed that preterm birth and its associated complications remain the leading causes of mortality during both neonatal and infant periods. Congenital malformations ranked second, followed by infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and central nervous system pathologies. Notably, in the structure of postneonatal mortality, an increase was observed in deaths caused by accidents, including asphyxia, injuries, poisoning, and foreign body aspiration.
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Copyright (c) 2026 А.З. Кусаинов , Н.С. Божбанбаева , Г.С. Бердиярова , Р.А. Майкупова , С.С. Жексенғұл
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