Language: English
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In 2013 Cuba recorded its lowest infant mortality rate ever, 4.2 deaths per thousand live births, lower than anywhere else in the Americas, even the developed North. US health researchers have visited Cuba to try to understand how such an impressive outcome is possible in a grievously resource-limited setting.
Part of the answer lies in Cuba's universally accessible health care with a focus on primary care and prevention. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the national Family Doctor-and-Nurse Program, which has helped Cuba achieve enviably low rates of low birth weight and infant mortality, while—not incidentally—reducing emergency room visits.

REFERENCES

1. Neggers Y, Crowe K. Low Birth Weight Outcomes: Why Better in Cuba Than Alabama? J Am Board Fam Med. 2013 March–April;26(2):187–95.

2. Ministry of Public Health (CU). Anuario Estadístico de Salud 2012 [Internet]; Havana: Ministry of Public Health (CU); 2013 [cited 2014 Jan 20]. Available from: http://fi les.sld.cu/dne/fi les/2013/04/anuario_2012.pdf. Spanish.

3. Barker DJP. Mothers, Babies and Disease in Later Life. London: British Medical Journal, 1994.