Infant mortality rate increases in 3 regions of Kazakhstan

In 2024, the number of neonatal beds at perinatal centers grew 20%, leading to a 20% rise in surgical interventions for newborns with birth defects (from 1,100 to 1,300). In an effort to reduce birth defects, which are a leading cause of neonatal deaths, 15 one day clinics were founded in the country’s 13 regions, with 50,000 pregnant women undergoing examination. This contributed to a 10% increase in the early detection rate of birth defects, said Alnazarova.

According to the Health Ministry, fetal medicine was introduced for the first time to treat abnormalities in the womb using minimally invasive methods. Thanks to this, the infant survival rate increased from 88% to 93% and mortality from birth defects fell 15%.

In 2024, the infant mortality rate dropped 8.3% to 7.05 per 1,000 births from 7.67 per 1,000 births in a year before. The infant mortality rate was higher than the national average and rose in Ulytau, Aktobe and Kostanay regions have recorded the highest infant mortality rates, said the Kazakh health minister.

As earlier reported, a new maternity hospital is set to be built in Almaty.