Excess infant mortality has continued to increase in France for the past ten years

It’s a fact, deaths of newborns under the age of one are on the rise. While these infant deaths had been falling for almost a century, the rate climbed to 3.5 deaths per 1,000 births in 2012 to reach 3.8 today for France, which ranks seventh among countries. having the most important infant mortality in the world.

These deaths occurring before the first birthday of a newborn occur, most of the time, rather early. Palmost half of affected infants died in the first week before birth, and a quarter of babies even died on their first day.

Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon. Thus the later age of mothers at the time of their deliveries (30.9 years on average against 27 years in the years 1980), tobacco or being overweight are tracks put forward by scientists.

Other less physiological factors are also referred to, such as understaffing in less prepared health systems, or even the risk prevention policy which is deemed insufficient in France. Unexpected infant death represents 300 deaths per year in France. It is the leading cause of death in newborns.