Health
Rising Infant Mortality: IGAS Report Highlights Various Factors
An IGAS report sheds light on several causes of infant mortality in France, including maternal age and social inequalities.
According to the report from the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) published on August 5, several factors contribute to the rising infant mortality rate in France. IGAS specifically emphasizes the increasing age of pregnant women, which is associated with a higher incidence of multiple pregnancies and situations of social precariousness.
The report, made public in response to an article by Canard enchaîné, also highlights the lack of resources allocated to neonatal critical care as a central issue. This analysis comes as France ranks low in infant mortality rates across Europe.
IGAS also downplays the role of the closure of small maternity wards in this context, suggesting that other factors are at play in this concerning reality for public health.