Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study

Yiğit Şenol; Hakkı Öztürk; Ayşe Özkan; Fatma Dilan Özdemir; Betül Gezer Kaçar

Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study

Abstract

Aims: The rates of infant mortality and stillbirths are crucial measures of healthcare quality and societal development. Significant strides have been achieved worldwide in lowering infant mortality rates since 1990. The infant mortality rate in Turkiye experienced a rapid decline up to 2010 but has stabilised since then. This study aims to investigate infant mortality and stillbirths comparatively within a provincial sample during 2024 and the first six months of 2025 to determine the factors influencing their temporal distribution patterns. Methods: This study is a retrospective descriptive investigation examining infant deaths and stillbirths. The study population consists of all reported infant deaths and stillbirths in a specified province between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2025, evaluated in six-month periods. Results: The infant mortality rate increased significantly in the first half of 2025 compared with previous periods, standing at 6.5‰ in the first half of 2024, 5.6‰ in the second half of 2024, and 10.3‰ in the first half of 2025 (p=0.048). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in stillbirth rates between the periods (p>0.05). The proportion of male infants in the infant mortality group was significantly higher in the first half of 2025 (p=0.016). In the stillbirth group, the interval between pregnancies of ≥2 years (p=0.026) and the number of live births (p=0.047) were significantly higher in the first half of 2025. Other maternal, obstetric and neonatal characteristics were found to be similar between the periods. Conclusion: In particular, the upward trend observed in the first six months of 2025 indicates the need to strengthen preventive healthcare services, improve the effectiveness of antenatal monitoring, and prioritise interventions targeting the early neonatal period.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval: The study was initiated with the approval of Non-Interventional Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University (Date: 2025, Decision No: 15-802).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infant and Child Health

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yiğit Şenol ^*
0000-0002-2220-4595
Türkiye

Hakkı Öztürk
0000-0002-1600-5637
Türkiye

Ayşe Özkan
0009-0009-7280-663X
Türkiye

Fatma Dilan Özdemir
0009-0006-2874-840X
Türkiye

Betül Gezer Kaçar
0009-0002-4291-0689
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 25, 2026

Submission Date

March 11, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Şenol, Y., Öztürk, H., Özkan, A., Özdemir, F. D., & Gezer Kaçar, B. (2026). Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(3), 547-552. https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC

AMA

1.Şenol Y, Öztürk H, Özkan A, Özdemir FD, Gezer Kaçar B. Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(3):547-552. https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC

Chicago

Şenol, Yiğit, Hakkı Öztürk, Ayşe Özkan, Fatma Dilan Özdemir, and Betül Gezer Kaçar. 2026. “Infant Mortality and Stillbirths: A Regional Retrospective Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (3): 547-52. https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC.

EndNote

Şenol Y, Öztürk H, Özkan A, Özdemir FD, Gezer Kaçar B (June 1, 2026) Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 3 547–552.

IEEE

[1]Y. Şenol, H. Öztürk, A. Özkan, F. D. Özdemir, and B. Gezer Kaçar, “Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 547–552, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC

ISNAD

Şenol, Yiğit - Öztürk, Hakkı - Özkan, Ayşe - Özdemir, Fatma Dilan - Gezer Kaçar, Betül. “Infant Mortality and Stillbirths: A Regional Retrospective Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/3 (June 1, 2026): 547-552. https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC.

JAMA

1.Şenol Y, Öztürk H, Özkan A, Özdemir FD, Gezer Kaçar B. Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:547–552.

MLA

Şenol, Yiğit, et al. “Infant Mortality and Stillbirths: A Regional Retrospective Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 547-52, https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC.

Vancouver

1.Yiğit Şenol, Hakkı Öztürk, Ayşe Özkan, Fatma Dilan Özdemir, Betül Gezer Kaçar. Infant mortality and stillbirths: a regional retrospective study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;7(3):547-52. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA36ZS75WC