Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 52, No 3, September, 2013
UDK 61
ISSN 0365-4478(Printed version)
ISSN 1821-2794(Online)
 

Correspondence to:

Biljana Stojanović

Belgrade College of Health Studies

254, Cara Dušana Street

11 000 Belgrade, Serbia

Email: biljana.stojanovic@sbb.rs

Review article                                                                                               

UDC: 314.42-053.3(497.11)"19"

Factors which determined mortality of newborns and infants in the first and last decade of the 20th century in Serbia

Biljana Stojanović, Svetlana Stojanović

Belgrade College of Health Studies, Belgrade, Serbia

The risk of dying is the highest in newborns and infants. This is one of the most vulnerable periods in development because newborns and infants are exposed to the influence of many risk factors, such as genetics, family or socioeconomic environmental factors. Annual statistics for the first decade of the 20th century showed that one quarter of liveborns died during the first year of life. Data also showed a higher mortality of small children in the country compared to urban areas. Poor food hygiene was the major cause of newborns’ death, both at birth and during the first few months. The last decade of the 20th century was particularly interesting and important to perceive mortality of newborns and infants, because of significant political and socioeconomic disturbances after international sanctions against Serbia and bombing in 1999. Sudden rise of mortality rate of newborns and infants was noticed in all parts of Serbia in 1992 and 1993. It has constantly been decreasing ever since. Acta Medica Medianae 2013;52(3):61-66.

      Key words: mortality, newborn, infant, Serbia