[Infant mortality in cuba; analysis of a program for its reduction (1970-1976)].

Analysis is made of the results of the reduction program of infantile mortality which began in 1970. Said reduction dropped from 38.7 in 1970 to 22.8 per thousand live births in 1976, for a diminution of 41.5%. The early neonatal decreased from 18.2 to 12.3 per thousand live births for a drop of 32.7%. The late noenatal decreased from 5.3 to 2.30/100 live births with 57.2% reduction and the postneonatal dropped from 15.2 to 8.2 per thousand live births for a diminution of 46.5%. Infantile mortality is reported for the different departments and the order in which the main causes of death are grouped is stressed as follows; 1st, perinatal affections (B43-B44); 2nd, congenital anomalies (B42); 3rd, influenza and pneumonia (B31-B32); 4th, enteritis and other acute diarrheal diseases (B4) AND 5th, sepsis (A21). The average number of puericulture office visits per infant under 1 year of age increased from 2.7 to 6.7. Institutional births increased from 93.3 to 97.8%. The steps taken to achieve these results are described.