Infant mortality in Cuba, 1969-1988.

The available statistical data indicate that Cuban infant mortality fell substantially, by roughly 74.5%, between 1969 and 1988. Especially great gains were made against late neonatal (7-28 days) and postneonatal (28 days-11 months) mortality, though reduction in early neonatal (0-6 days) mortality was also substantial, amounting to about 64.0%. In general the gains were spread fairly evenly among the country's provinces, with infant mortality tending to remain higher in the eastern provinces than in the central and western regions. A key factor contributing to these improvements was a policy decision made in the early 1960s that assigned high priority to the health sector and led to major improvements in health service organization, quality, and coverage. Other associated changes that seem to have made significant contributions to this trend include improvements in living standards, sanitary and epidemiologic conditions, outpatient medical care, hospital care, and health technology.