The Saskatoon Health Region has released a new report examining the infant mortality rate in the region.
The numbers suggest Saskatoon is largely on par with the rest of the country.
The report looked at births between 2007 to 2009.
The rate of infant deaths per 1000 births ranged from 3.5 to 7.2.
However, the deputy medical health officer for the region, Dr. Johnmark Opondo, says those rates are higher for young women who live in poor conditions:
“In these pockets, there are higher rates of infant mortality — particularly amongst individuals of lower socio-economic status and amongst some of our younger women. So, women less than 20 seem to experience a much higher infant mortality rate than the average mom compared to the rest of the population.”
Meantime, the Children’s Advocate for Saskatchewan says he wasn’t surprised by the report — but the numbers can be improved upon.
Bob Pringle says health is related to equality of income and that’s why nutrition programs need to be delivered to poor mothers:
“If not, chances are you’re going to have an underweight baby — which, again, is one of the leading causes for infant mortality.”
Pringle says reducing these types of risk factors can help children get a better start in life.