Why does cuba have such a low infant mortality rate?

Question

Cuba has a infant mortality rate of 5.93 deaths(per 1000 live births), yet why do we say that we have the best healthcare in the world when we have a higher rate?

Answer 1

When I see figures that show the infant mortality rate higher in the U.S., I often wonder HOW the figures were obtained.  Did they count in the same way?...with the same guidelines?  In the U.S. we have many intensive care nurseries that save babies as young as 22 weeks gestation.  In the U.S. if a tiny preemie is born at 22 wks, or 25 wks., and lives even a few minutes, it is counted as a live birth and the death goes into the infant mortality figures.  In other countries they may not count these premature  demises as "deaths"...they may actually be considered "miscarraiges."  I know Cuba does not have the intensive care nurseries and infant ventilators to save these premature babies.  They may well count all deliveries before 36 weeks as miscarraiges...as not viable anyway.   The term "infant mortality" needs to be defined in exactly the same way with the same parameters in each country for the figures to mean anything.  I spent 25 years working in  a  major intensive care nursery. Care was never denied  based on financial or insurance issues at our hospital.  Prenatal and post-natal care of the same quality was given to all. Mothers and infants without private insurance qualified for state medical programs...and this is the same throughout the U.S.

Answer 2

Reliable universal healthcare, with prevention as one of the keys.

Answer 3

we are the best propaganda

Answer 4

Maybe, because they have some of the best health care systems in Latin America.

Answer 5

Actually Cuba runs head to head with North America.

Cuba's infant mortality rate is lower than the US with 5 deaths per thousand in Cuba versus 7 per thousand in the US. Cuba has nearly twice as many physicians as the U.S. -- 5.91 doctors per thousand people compared to 2.56 doctors per thousand, according to WHO.

A principal reason that some health standards in Cuba approach the high American level is that the Cuban system emphasizes early intervention. Clinic visits are free, and the focus is on preventing disease rather than treating it.

According to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, they drew up an analysis of the key features of Cuba's healthcare system, drawing comparisons with the state funded National Health Service (NHS).

For example:

There appeared to be little evidence of a divide between the prevention/proactive response and the disease management/reactive response within Cuban healthcare.

By far the biggest difference was the ratio of doctors per person. In Cuba it was one doctor per 175 people, in the UK the figure was one doctor per 600 people.

There is a commitment in Cuba to the triple diagnosis (physical/psychological/social) at all levels.

Extensive involvement of "patient" and the public in decision making at all levels.

Integration of hospital/community/primary care via polyclinics.

Team-work that works is much more evident both in the community and the hospital sector and the mental-health and care of the elderly sites visited were very well staffed and supported.