Indonesia's infant mortality rate declined to 64' infannt deaths per
l ,000 live births in l99l _ Adolescent mothers. women who first married under
the age of lS. and mothers who did not obtain antenatal care and tetanus
immunizations were at greater risk of experiencing an infant death. In addition.
levels of infant mortality were substantially higher when births were spaced
closer together. For example, the infant mortality rate among adolescent
mothers was l25 when births were spaced less than 24 .months apart and 96
when births were separated by more than two years. Roughly half of all infant
deaths occur within the first 28 days of life in Indonesia. Findings indicate that
mothers who were less than 20 years of age. who did not have antenatal care
and tetanus immunizations. and who spaced births less than 24 months apart
were more likely to experience a neonatal death. With the exception of
antenatal care, these factors were also associated with elevated levels of
postnatal mortality (infant deaths that occur when infants are between l-l2
months of age). However, postneonatal mortality was also higher among
mothers who gave birth at home rather than in a health facility, who were
assisted at delivery by non-medical staff and who had lower levels of
educational attainment. Postneonatal mortality is determined by a broader
array of program and socioeconomic measures than neonatal mortality. and
may be reduced more readily through Family Planning/Mother and Child
Health (FPAHCH) service interventions. In order to reduce both neonatal and
postneonatal mortality. greater effort should be made to increase the age at first birth. space births more than two years. and attain higher tetanus coverage
levels among expectant mothers.
