Reducing infant mortality in Chile: success in two phases.

Latin America, and especially Chile, has done well in reducing infant mortality, with rates of around twenty-five per thousand live births. There are two clear phases of declining mortality: one largely influenced by poverty reduction, primary health care, and environmental and demographic factors; and a second one more sensitive to focused health care interventions. In 2000 Chile reached 8.9 infant deaths per 1,000, using interventions that represent an increase in the provision of services related to perinatal risks, acute respiratory diseases, congenital heart conditions, and certain vaccine-preventable infections. Chile, with per capita income near 5,000 US dollars in 2000, has infant mortality that compares with that of wealthier countries.