[Evolution of the infant mortality rate in la Rioja in Spain (1980-1998)].
BACKGROUND
Before the 1990s, the infant mortality rate in the province of La Rioja was the highest in Spain and was 60 % higher than the Spanish average. This led to the implementation of several measures to lower this rate.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze infantile mortality rates and their components in La Rioja before and after the implementation of the measures and to compare these rates with those of the other autonomous communities and with the national average.


METHODS
The study period was from 1980 to 1998. Data were obtained from the National Statistics Institute, the official mortality register of La Rioja and the records of the San Millán-San Pedro Hospital in Logroño (La Rioja). The World Health Organization's definition of mortality was used.


RESULTS
From 1980-1998 the infant mortality rate in La Rioja decreased from 15.4 to 5.9 per thousand (neonatal mortality: from 10.84 to 3.68; postneonatal mortality: from 4.56 to 2.21; perinatal mortality: from 20.54 to 5.1). In the same period, the national rate decreased from 12.34 to 4.85. Data from the autonomous communities were analyzed by comparing the last two 5-year periods: La Rioja showed a decrease of 40.41 % (from 10.71 to 6.06 per thousand), which was the greatest decrease in Spain.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in the infant mortality rate in La Rioja during the last decade indicates that the measures adopted have been successful. Even so, these rates remain among the highest in Spain and continued efforts should be made to reduce them.
Llanos De La Torre Quiralte
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Atención Primaria, La Rioja, Spain.
Garijo Ayestarán
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Poch Olivé
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D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology